A New Form of Government Chapter 2

Key Terms  Res publica  Roman Republic  Consuls  Lictors  Fasces  Quaestor  Aediles  Censors  Praetors  Pontifex maximus  patricians  Comitia Centuriata  Plebeians  Tribunes  Veto  Plebiscites  Twelve Tables  Basilica  Cincinnatus  Gravitas  S.P.Q.R.

The Roman Republic  A new government was needed  Romans did not want another king  Tarquinius Superbus driven out  Republic  res publica – “the public thing”  Roman Republic  Lasted over 400 years  What follows the republic?

The Consuls and Other Magistrates  Consuls Two men appointed – why? Served a one-year term – why? 1. Served as chairmen of the Senate and Assembly 2. Commanded the army 3. Represented Rome to foreign powers  Lictors (bodyguards)  Escorted the consuls to government meetings  Carried fasces  Bundle of sticks with an ax in the middle  Represented the power of the Republic

The Consuls and Other Magistrates  In times of crisis, a dictator was appointed  One man in charge  Consuls remained in office  Dictator had 24 lictors  Served a 6-month term

Other Magistrates  Quaestor (20)  Lowest in rank  Job was to oversee the state treasury  Aediles (4)  Supervised public places  Supervised public games  Supervised grain supply for Rome  Censors (2)  Conducted the census (every 5 years)  Arranged people based on wealth  Taxation, army service, and position in Assembly  Censorship

Other Magistrates  Praetors (8)  Highest ranking magistrates (below consul)  Served as judges  Pontifex maximus (1)  Responsible for all religious activities in Rome

The Senate  Advisors to the consuls  300 members  Made up of patricians  Served for life  Met in the Curia Hostilius 1. Debated issues affecting the public  Voted on possible solutions  Decrees not binding; basis for future laws 2. Declared war 3. Negotiated peace

The Assemblies  Comitia Centuriata  Created by Servius Tullius (King #6)  Three main functions 1. Vote on laws 2. Make sure laws were kept 3. Elect magistrates  Also voted on whether or not Rome should go to war  Direct democracy vs. representative democracy

The Assemblies  Centuries still determined by wealth  Each century had one vote  Patricians had the largest number of centuries, thus, more votes  Plebeians  The ordinary people  There were more of them, but they had fewer votes  Often couldn’t vote – why?

The Assemblies  Plebeians take a stand  Refused to fight in battle until they were allowed to elect their own officials  Patricians gave in  Tribunes (2 to 10)  Plebeian officials in the Senate  Had the power to veto

 Concilium Plebis  Plebeian assembly  Could pass decrees (called plebiscites)  Tribal Assembly  Based on where you lived  Open to all  Elected aediles and quaestors  A plebian became consul in 366 B.C.E.  After that, one of the two consuls would be a plebian

The Roman Code of Laws  One of Rome’s greatest contributions to modern civilization  Plebeians issued a plebiscite asking that all laws be written down  Twelve Tables  Laws were written on 12 bronze tablets that were posted in the Forum  Like a Bill of Rights; all legal cases had to be based on the same set of rules

Roman Code of Laws  Some laws were very harsh  Burglars could be killed on the spot  If you broke another’s leg and didn’t pay, you would lose your leg  Dishonor = death  Rights of the accused  Face your accuser  Judges were impartial  Decisions were recorded  Praetors heard cases in law courts (Basilica)

The Army of the Early Republic  No full-time soldiers  Men called up in times of invasion  Left their farms to fight, then returned  Work hard & fight bravely; very virtuous  Cincinnatus  Ex-consul, asked to become dictator during a war  Agreed right away  Won and freed the consul in 16 days  Returned to his farm  Didn’t seek recognition  Gravitas – a devout loyalty to the spirit of public service

The Heart of Rome  The Forum was the heart of Rome  Curia Hostilia  Basilicas  Marketplace  Temples and shrines; home of the pontifex maximus  S.P.Q.R.  Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and the People of Rome)  Motto of Rome  Showed divisions among classes  Rome ruled by its highest governing body

Questions on page What does the word “republic” mean in Latin? 2. Why were there two consuls at one time? 3. Describe the Senate. 4. What were the duties of the Comitia Centuriata? 5. Who were the patricians and the plebeians? 6. What does the word “veto” mean in Latin? 7. What is a plebiscite? 8. Describe the laws posted on the Twelve Tablets/tables. 9. What greatly admired character traits did Cincinnatus possess? 10. What was the meaning of S.P.Q.R.?