Roman Government

The Roman Republic originated from three civilization, the main two being the Etruscans and Greeks. There form of government mixed oligarchy and democracy, growing slowly to a Republic over 500 years. Etruscan kings ruled Rome itself, but Rome eventually separated themselves from them. They formed the first type of republic, a type of government in which decision-making power is shared between the Senate and assemblies of male citizens. In the city- state of Rome, a king was advised by a council of elders called the Senate, whose members he appointed. The king will usually chose among a pool of patricians, upper-class citizens who belonged to the oldest and noblest Roman families. The patricians dominated the city-state. Consuls were two senators who led the government and military for one year terms and appointed their own successors. There also would be a dictator, holding all power to give orders and make laws for a maximum period of six months. Plebeians on the other hand, were the lower class, the common people, including workers, small farmers, and wealthy people who were not patricians. Patricians needed the plebeians because they were their military soldiers, therefore they had to maintain peace with them without giving them some power. Over the coarse of 500 years, Plebeians continued to gain power until patricians and plebeians held about the same power, but patricians were somewhat more powerful. Plebeian assemblies gained power and formed tribunes, magistrates elected by the plebeians, who eventually gained the power to initiate laws and veto laws. Patricians had to give in to the wants and needs of the Plebeians because they began to outnumber them. In addition, the plebeians had the patricians write the laws on tombs or slabs instead of oral tradition.