Roman Government

1
Roman Government
Bryan Bishop and Michael Haynes

• History of the Roman Republic
• The Various Government Institutions of Ancient
  Rome (Structure)
• Classes of the People within the Roman Republic
• Civil War and Imbalance
• Influence of Roman Government on Future
  Governments
• Bibliography (Deus ex Uselessness)

2
History of the Roman Republic

• Monarchy
• Developed with Rome in the beginning of the Roman
  Civilization.
• Republic
• Once the Kings were driven out, the Roman
  Republic started to develop.
• Unfortunately, the Senate was jealous of its own
  power. Commonly, the Senate would block its own
  land reforms.
• The First and Second Triumvirate were to
  establish control once ransoming the Senate.
  The Second Triumvirate was not as successful as
  the first, more secretive triumvirate, as we can
  tell by the civil wars that broke out.
• Empire
• Lead Rome to be permanently split into western
  and eastern portions.
• Decline
• Possible causes include the imbalance of
  government power, lack of citizen reliability
  (perhaps due to the developments of
  Christianity), etc.

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The Various Government Institutions of Ancient
Rome (Structure)

• Monarchy
• Also known as the Roman Kingdom
• Kings were elected by the people to serve for
  life.
• Some historians believe Kings had powers much
  like the Consuls.
• Republic
• Internal strife was the biggest threat to the
  Roman Republic. See the next panel for more
  information on the classes of people involved in
  the Roman Republic.
• Three men took control of the Republic through
  the First Triumvirate. The First Triumvirate
  ended up allowing those three men to control
  Roman politics.
• Empire
• During the reign of the Roman Empire, emperors
  would appoint co-emperors.
• The appointing of co-emperors commonly lead to
  civil wars.
• Although the civil wars were a problem, the
  borders of the Roman Empire remained fairly
  stable.
• Famous Emperors include Augustus, Julio-Claudian
  dynasty emperors, Flavian Dynasty emperors, the
  Adoptive emperors, Severan dynasty, and on up to
  the Christian empire.

Maximinus Thrax
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Classes of the People within the Roman Republic

• Senators
• Usually around 300 Senators at any one time and
  operated under certain religious restrictions.
• These were the people that officially sent
  ambassadors to and from cities. Senators were not
  legislatures
• Senators could be put up under investigation if
  some people believe that they are against the
  public morals.
• Participated through Debate, and at other times,
  through a show of hands (voting).
• Consuls
• Highest elective office in the Roman Republic.
• Two were elected each year, with power to veto
  each others rule.
• If a consul died during his term, another consul
  would be elected called the suffect consul.
• Patricians
• Originally referenced those of an elite class
  (Rich. Very, very Rich. ), however, later
  referenced somebody of much higher political
  power in parallel with the decline of Rome.
• Later, in parallel with the decline of the Roman
  Empire, patrician could have meant one who
  performed some service worthy of honor for the
  Roman Empire.
• The position of patrician was inherited.
• Plebeians
• Member of the plebs.
• Could become Military Tribunes or could serve in
  the military.
• Plebeians were not allowed to perform
  intermarriages.
• Dictators
• The Elected dictator served terms of six months
  and sometimes longer

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Civil War and Imbalance

• Pompey

Julius Caesar
During the time of the empires, the emperors
would commonly appoint co-emperors. This
practice, however, commonly lead to civil
war. Civil wars ultimately lead the Roman
government to be split up into the western and
eastern portions. (A.D. 395) Caesar versus
Pompey these two men generated an important
civil war Pompey had the Senates army, making
the event a stand off between Julius Caesar and
the Roman Senate. The result of the civil war was
a reformation Although Caesar refused title of
king, he accepted dictatorship for life.
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Influence of Roman Government on Future
Governments

• To the west, the Byzantine Empire was directly
  influenced by Rome and the fall of the massive
  Roman Empire.
• The Holy Roman Empire claims to have developed
  from the remains of the empire of the West.
• Russia also claims a similar Roman legacy.
• The use of a senate was later adopted by other
  developing governments. Rome housed the original
  formation of a senate.
• Senates currently exist in Argentina, Australia,
  Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech
  Republic, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico,
  Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain,
  and the United States.

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Bibliography (Deus ex Uselessness)

• "Ancient Rome." Wikipedia. 13 Oct. 02005.
  Wikimedia Foundation. 13 Oct. 2005
  lthttp//en.wikipedia.orggt.
• "Caesar's Civil War." UNRV History. UNRV. 13 Oct.
  2005 lthttp//www.unrv.com/fall-republic/caesars-ci
  vil-war.phpgt.
• Shaw, Brent D. "Roman Government The Republic."
  Arts and Sciences. 12 Jan 2004. University of
  Pennsylvania. 11 Oct. 2005 lthttp//www.sas.upenn.e
  du/ekondrat/Rome_Govt.htmlgt.
• http//www.physics-philosophy-metaphysics.com/imag
  es/Cicero-Roman-Empire-360.jpg