1. Roman Government
By Chris, Josh, Samantha, and KC

2. Republic
Tarquin, the Etruscan king, was driven from power. Without a king, Rome
became a republic.
-Supreme power held by the people and elected representatives
Citizens were allowed to pursue government offices, and men ( who were
wealthy, capable, and competitive), vied for power, glory, and honor.

3. Senate
The Roman Senate
consisted of elders that
were aristocratic. To
join the Senate, you must
be a previously elected
official. Once in, you were Senate for life, however, you
can run for a higher status in the Cursus Honorum.

4. Conflict of the Orders
• Rome wanted to expand their territory
•
•
- Italian Peninsula and beyond
Roman citizens fought over civil rights and government
representation
- Conflict of the Orders
Between Patricians (Aristocrats)
and Plebeians (Commoners)

5. Patricians
•
•
•
Horsemen that liked warring; calvary was their basic fighting unit
-Helped them maintain leadership over other Romans
Infantrymen (Heavily armored commoners) encouraged democracy
Increased self-confidence of commoner soldiers (small farmers)
-Conflict between Patricians and Plebeians
•
•
-Debt slavery
Almost always chosen as Consuls
They choose tribunes

6. Plebeians
Protected the tribunes
They wanted laws to apply to them and patricians equally, so the judiciary
branch of government was created.
They demanded that the laws be written down (known as the Twelve Tables)

7. Consuls
Consuls served as commanders-in-chief of the
military.There were two of them and they mostly
consisted of patricians.They had the power to
execute anyone who they felt was a slacker.
The consuls could even promote any one to
senate within the government. One other thing
they could decide to have an emergency power
and become a tyrant for six months.

8. Dictator
- A ruler with total power over a country.
Consuls decided who would be raised to a higher position in the
Senate and who could become declare emergency, which gives
them emergency absolute rule as dictator for up to 6 months if in an
emergency.
Julius Caesar was a
Roman dictator

9. Tribunes
An official chosen by the Plebeians to protect their interests. They
could be either commoners or aristocrats. They were also well
protected and had great power from the Plebeians.
Romes military power increased
o Farmer-soldiers were encouraged by the increase
•

10. Veto
To cancel
The two consuls were able to veto each others decisions.

11. Assembly of the plebeians
An assembly of commoners was
initiated in 471 BCE as another step
towards democracy. Democracy
expanded by allowed plebeians to elect
certain officials, try criminal cases
(that involved plebeians), and pass
legislation.

12. Censor
Was created to relieve the consuls of the duty
of taking the census (an official count of the
population). It was needed to collect taxes and
organize military duties. There were two
censors.

13. Executive
Included the consuls
They had the power to put plans, actions, and/or laws into effect.

14. Legislative
Included the Assemblies and the Senate
They had the power to make laws.

15. Judiciary
The Judiciary branch was created because the Plebeians wanted
laws to apply to them and Patricians equally. Praetors were in
charge of the Judiciary.

16. Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tablets are laws written on
twelve bronze tablets to avoid arbitrary
decisions concerning the law.
Punishments for breaking these laws
were harsh.
- Convicted of slander = clubbed to
death
- Thief = flogged (beat with a whip or
stick) with the exception if he was a slave.
If he was, he would be thrown off of
Tarpeian Rock.

17. Cursus Honorum
The Cursus Honorum was the way a Roman
can progress through politics. It was similar to
a hierarchy.