Government & Society Chapter 6 Section 2

I Roman Government After Etruscan kings deposedaristocratic republic rules by patricianspatricians grant plebeians right to elect Tribunes Tribunes represent plebian interests in gov’t

Tripartite Government Gov’t w/ 3 parts each w. its own privileges, rights, & powers Magistrates Senate Assemblies/Tribunals

II Written Laws keep Order Early Rome’s history only patricians wrote the laws Roman laws written to ensure everyone in the city knew The law of Twelve Rome's 1st written law code written on 12 Bronze Tablets displayed in the Forum

Patricians wrote law designed them to be hard on those who can not defend themselves and slaves Debtors have 30 day grace period to pay after which they will be arrested, held in chained for 60 days, sold into slavery, or even killed Financial punishment for hurting a free man was twice as must as that of hurting a slave Theft by free man=flogging while theft by slave= flogging & possible execution

A. Magistrates Consuls Magistrates 2 elected yearly to run city & head the army Why elected yearly? Magistrates Selected by Senators of Rome to administer Republic under sup. Of Senate Judges & other officials Elected yearly Automatically became senators after 1 term

B. The Senate Roman Senate wealthy & powerful Romans that advised consuls Originally advised kings but later advised consuls Leg. & consulted body of gov’t Held office for LIFE Most were patricians Gained power over time and gained control of Rome’s finances

C. Assemblies & Tribunals Assemblies job was to elect magistrates Was made up of Patricians and Plebeians Tribunals were elected by plebeians Could VETO (prohibit/cancel) actions by other officials Held office for 1 yr Latin=lang. of Romans Veto means “I forbid”

D. Civic Duty Gov’t of Rome would fail if not for part. Of ppl Romans felt it was their CIVIC DUTY (responsibility) to the city Attended assemblies Voted in elections

E. Checks and balances Checks and balances Restrictions within gov’t to ensure no one group becomes more powerful then another Laws proposed by Senate had to be approved by magistrates & assemblies

III The Roman Forum Romes meeting place speeches were held Gladiator fights/laws displayed here Divided into 2 hills Palantine Hill Wealthiest citizens lived here Located between Circus maximus & Coliseum Capitoline Hill Temple Jupiter Patricians & Plebians found mingling here