The Government of the Roman Republic
Last Updated 11/13/2007

In 509 BC, Romans overthrew Tarquin the Proud, the Etruscan king.
They set up a Republic where people choose their rulers.
This idea of a government chosen by the people would be a model for the founders of the United States.
Not everyone had an equal say in the Roman Republic.

Patricians
Members of the oldest and richest families.
They could hold public office.
They could perform certain reliqious rituals.
They were landowners.
They lived in large houses.
They had political power in the senate.  

Plebians
Were the poorer citizens.
They paid taxes and served in the army.
They lived in apartments
They could not marry patricians.
They could not hold officeif they went into debt they could be sold into slavery.
494 BC, the  plebians officially withdrew from Rome and declared an alternative government.
445 BC, plebians gained the right to marry patricians
366 BC, first plebian Consul.
356 BC, first plebian dictator.
351 BC, first plebian censor.
336 BC, first plebian praetor.

Consuls
Two consuls, chosen each year, headed the Republic.
They were administrators and military leaders.
Each could veto the acts of the other.
Both had to agree before a law was passed.
In charge of the treasury.
Commanders in chief of the army when at war.

Senate
300 senators were chosen for life.
Handeled daily problems of the government.
The Senate advised the Consuls.
Discussed forign relations.
Proposed laws.
Approved public contracts for building roads and temples.

Government Officials
Judges, assemlies, and tribunes.
Tribunes protected the rights of the plebians.
All Roman citizens belonged to the assembly.
Assembly could declare war or make peace.

Twelve Tables
In 450 BC, Roman laws were written down.
12 bronze tablets were placed in the Forum.
The laws applied to both plebians and patricians.
Most about wills, property rights, and court actions.
They were the foundation for all future Roman Laws.
Roman school boys had to learn the Twelve Tables by heart.

Democartic Government
Election of tribunes and recording of laws were the first steps.
About 250 BC, no one could be sold into slavery for debt.
Plebians could hold public office.