Framework: From Monarchy to Republic Fall of Monarchy –Tarquinius Superbus –Rebellion of Aristocracy

Framework: From Monarchy to Republic Fall of Monarchy –Tarquinius Superbus –Rebellion of Aristocracy What is a Republic? –Res publica –Senate populesque Romanus (SPQR) –State without a… –Checks and Balances

Framework: From Monarchy to Republic Fall of Monarchy –Tarquinius Superbus –Rebellion of Aristocracy What is a Republic? –Res publica –Senate populesque Romanus (SPQR) –State without a king –Checks and Balances Arc of Republic –Periodization Early Republic: 509 BCE-280s BCE Middle Republic: 280s BCE-133 BCE Late Republic: 133 BCE-27 BCE –Aristocracy Retains Power –Expansion of Empire –Death of Republic

Structure of Republican Governance “As for the Roman constitution, it had three elements, each of them possessing sovereign powers: and their respective share of power in the whole state had been regulated with such a scrupulous regard to equality and equilibrium, that no one could say for certain, not even a native, whether the constitution as a whole were an aristocracy or democracy or despotism.” -Polybius, 2 nd Century Historian

Structure of Republican Governance Despotic Element: Consuls Aristocratic Element: Senate –Who are they? –Becoming a Senator –Tasks –Proposing Laws –“Advice” –As Rome expands…

Structure of Republican Governance Despotic Element: Consuls Aristocratic Element: Senate Democratic Element: Assemblies –Who could participate? –Overview »Rome »What did they do? »Discuss? »The Real Power? –Three Major Assemblies »Comitia Centuriata (Century Assembly) »Comitia Tributa (Tribal Assembly) »Concilium Plebis (Plebeian Council)

Structure of Republican Governance Despotic Element: Consuls Aristocratic Element: Senate Democratic Element: Assemblies Magistrates –Term Limits –Elected by… –Hierarchy –Magistrates become… –Evolution –The Offices

Perpetuating Inequality and Senatorial Power Unpaid Offices

Perpetuating Inequality and Senatorial Power Unpaid Offices Centrality of Senate

FC.31B THE FLOW OF POWER IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC Problems of ruling an empire w/city-state govt. & army of short-term amateur officials & militia(FC.30) Senate: Advisory body of 300 ex-office holders whose decrees (senatus consulta) are not technically laws but have virtual force of law to: Rule on technical acceptability of treaties & laws Assign budgets to. governors & officials Assign magistrates’ tasks (e.g., which proconsul rules which province & for how long) Centrality of Senate 1)“Advice” 2)Shaped Laws 3)Which Assembly? 4)Crucial Role in Assemblies 5)Senate = Magistrates 6)Dictated Tasks of Magistrates 7)Cursus Honorum Senate controls popular assemblies through: Comitia Centuriata Votes on war & peace Weighted bloc voting to favor those who bear the brunt of the fighting (which used to be the rich) Comitia Tributa; Votes on laws that only officials (who are also senators) can propose Open ballots  Control votes of their clientes (poor dependants) Senate controls officials who return to Senate after 1-yr terms: Tribunes (who are also members of Senate) Supposedly protect the poor, propose laws, & can veto any act of state they or the senate want Consuls & praetors (who are also members of Senate) Control what laws are proposed to the assemblies, their text, & who gets to discuss them Priests (who are also senators) that can declare bad omens & postpone govt. business for that day Cursus Honorum The minumum age, number of times, & order one can hold offices: Military tribune  quaestor  aedile or tribune  praetor  consul Censors: 2 officials elected every 5 yrs to choose worthy men to fill the Senate to 300 & expel unworthy senators Senate controls various traditional and religious procedures:

FC.31B THE FLOW OF POWER IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC Problems of ruling an empire w/city-state govt. & army of short-term amateur officials & militia(FC.30) Senate: Advisory body of 300 ex-office holders whose decrees (senatus consulta) are not technically laws but have virtual force of law to: Rule on technical acceptability of treaties & laws Assign budgets to. governors & officials Assign magistrates’ tasks (e.g., which proconsul rules which province & for how long) Voting 1)In Rome 2)Vote by Tribe/Century 3)Bloc Voting Senate controls popular assemblies through: Comitia Centuriata Votes on war & peace Weighted bloc voting to favor those who bear the brunt of the fighting (which used to be the rich) Comitia Tributa; Votes on laws that only officials (who are also senators) can propose Open ballots  Control votes of their clientes (poor dependants) Senate controls officials who return to Senate after 1-yr terms: Tribunes (who are also members of Senate) Supposedly protect the poor, propose laws, & can veto any act of state they or the senate want Consuls & praetors (who are also members of Senate) Control what laws are proposed to the assemblies, their text, & who gets to discuss them Priests (who are also senators) that can declare bad omens & postpone govt. business for that day Cursus Honorum The minumum age, number of times, & order one can hold offices: Military tribune  quaestor  aedile or tribune  praetor  consul Censors: 2 officials elected every 5 yrs to choose worthy men to fill the Senate to 300 & expel unworthy senators Senate controls various traditional and religious procedures:

Bloc Voting in Comitia Centuriata 193 Centuries, split up according to property and age –18 for equites –170 for enlisted »Split up, disproportionately, on property lines »85 for over 46 »85 for under 46 –5 for others »Just 1 for the mass of very poor Result: _________________________

FC.31B THE FLOW OF POWER IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC Problems of ruling an empire w/city-state govt. & army of short-term amateur officials & militia(FC.30) Senate: Advisory body of 300 ex-office holders whose decrees (senatus consulta) are not technically laws but have virtual force of law to: Rule on technical acceptability of treaties & laws Assign budgets to. governors & officials Assign magistrates’ tasks (e.g., which proconsul rules which province & for how long) Voting 1)In Rome 2)Vote by Tribe/Century 3)Bloc Voting 4)Vote in order of 5)Justification 6)Open Ballot Senate controls popular assemblies through: Comitia Centuriata Votes on war & peace Weighted bloc voting to favor those who bear the brunt of the fighting (which used to be the rich) Comitia Tributa; Votes on laws that only officials (who are also senators) can propose Open ballots  Control votes of their clientes (poor dependants) Senate controls officials who return to Senate after 1-yr terms: Tribunes (who are also members of Senate) Supposedly protect the poor, propose laws, & can veto any act of state they or the senate want Consuls & praetors (who are also members of Senate) Control what laws are proposed to the assemblies, their text, & who gets to discuss them Priests (who are also senators) that can declare bad omens & postpone govt. business for that day Cursus Honorum The minumum age, number of times, & order one can hold offices: Military tribune  quaestor  aedile or tribune  praetor  consul Censors: 2 officials elected every 5 yrs to choose worthy men to fill the Senate to 300 & expel unworthy senators Senate controls various traditional and religious procedures:

Patronage/Clientage Paternalism and Pietas Nature of Patron/Client Relationship –Patron provides… –Client provides… –Traced back to… Effect on Politics…

Social Conflict  Patriarchs and the Plebeians  Overview:  Monarchy into Early Republic  Who were Patricians?  What did they do?  How did you become a Patrician?  Traces back to…

Social Conflict  Patriarchs and the Plebeians  Overview:  Monarchy into Early Republic  Who were Patricians?  What did they do?  How did you become a Patrician?  Traces back to…  Struggle of the Orders  Plebs gain status from  Original Restrictions  Plebeian Progress  Plebs want…  Technique  Pleb Victories  Lex Hortensia

Social Conflict  The New Aristocracy and the Retention of Privilege  Which Plebs benefit?  The New Aristocracy  Same Families…  Justification  “Between the weakness of the ruler and the rashness of the masses, the aristocrats have occupied a middle position, and there is no position more moderate than theirs.” --Cicero