1. The Roman Republic 8-2

2. Rome’s Government Classes of People
Early Romans divided into 2 classes:
Patricians- Wealthy land owners. Rome’s ruling class
Plebeians- Artisans, Shopkeepers, and owners of small farms
Patricians
Plebeians

3. Rome’s Government
Plebeians and Patricians had the right to vote and the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the army.
Marriages between the 2 classes was forbidden.
Plebeians also could not hold office.

4. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Rome had a tripartite government or 3 part:
Some ran the government
Some made laws
Another group acted as judges p.5

5. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
There were checks and balances, but no separation of powers among the tripartite

6. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Consuls- were the top government officials
2 were chosen each year
They must have been in the Patrician class.

7. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
All consuls had the power to veto
Veto- the power to reject another’s decision

8. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Praetors- interpreted the law and acted as judges.

9. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Others had important functions such as collecting taxes, handling public finance, supervise public festivals.

10. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Senate- Most important legislative body. A select group of 300 patricians who served for life.

11. Workings of Roman Government
Rome’s Government
Workings of Roman Government
Assembly of Centuries- It elected consuls and praetors and passed laws.
It was under the control of the Patricians

12. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
Plebieans complained about not having enough power
8-2A

13. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
Like the Patricians they paid taxes
Like the Patricians they served in the army

14. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
494 BC the Plebeians went on strike
They refused to serve in the army
They left Rome to set up their own government

15. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
471 BC set up their own body of representatives called the Council of Plebs with the blessing of the Patricians
The assembly elected tribunes who brought plebeian concerns to the governments attention p.5

16. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
The tribunes also won the right to veto government matters
455 BC Plebeians allowed to marry patricians
300 BC Plebeians allowed to become Consuls