Ancient Roman Political Systems and Law

• Roman Republic


  A form of government or state ruled by the people
• After the founding of Rome, the Romans were ruled by kings. The Romans overthrew their cruel king and set up the Roman Republic (509 BC)
• Res publica

  Republic: The Latin phrase meaning 'public affairs' It now refers to ‘a form of government or state ruled by the people’
• The Romans no longer wanted kings, so they decided to have a government that is elected by the people instead
• Roman republican system


  • Oligarchy and democracy. • Rulers of the Roman Republic were chosen by the Romans through election, not hereditary kings
• Branches of the Roman Republic


  • Executive -> they made all the decisions
  • Legislative -> elected officials and voted on bills
  • Judiciary -> judges (and courts)
• Patricians


  The ruling class in early Roman Republic
• Plebeians

  The common people in early Roman Republic
• Consuls


  • The highest officials of the government, handling political affairs
  • Two consuls elected every year, one had to be a plebeian. this system of check and balance prevented absolute rule
• Senate


  • The main advisory body of the consuls, mostly patricians
  • Handled foreign affairs, distributed public funds, appointed governors, etc. Also give advice to consuls and propose bills
• Legislative Assemblies


  • All male citizens could vote in elections and vote on bills suggested by the Senate
• In the early years of the Roman Republic

  The consuls and senators only came from the patricians
• Around 494 BC


  The plebeian soldiers refused to march against the enemy, forcing the patricians to allow the plebeians to elect tribunes to protect their rights
• Around 342 BC


  One of the consuls had to be a plebeian, greatly increasing the power of the plebeians
• The Roman Republic's idea of a state ruled by the people spread with its expansion, and its influence continues today in many modern countries
• Element of oligarchy


  The consuls and senators only came from a small group of patricians until the 5th century BC
• Element of democracy


  Tribunes were elected to represent the plebeians in the Senate

  ->They could veto bills that were against the will of the plebeians

  -> One of the consuls must be chosen from the plebeians also reflected the increasing powner of the majority
• • Its influence continues today
  • Many modern countries still adopt republican system
• Judiciary


  The system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state
• Law in Ancient Rome


  • The Romans made the 'Law of the Twelve Tables' with reference to the ancient Greek law
  • Roman law was improved continuously
  • This laid the foundation of the rule of law
• The Law of The Twelve Tables was created


  450 BC
• Roman law


  • Stressed the natural rights of citizens
  • These rights could not be taken away by the government
  • Citizens were equal before the law
  • They had the right to a fair trial and to appeal
• The concepts of natural rights and equality in the Roman law greatly influenced the law of later generations
• The spirit of Roman law was inherited by modern Western law codes such as the Civil Code of the French and the German Civil Code, which continue till now
• Many Latin legal terms are still used by many countries
• Our relations with Roman Law

  • Judgments made according to the law to maintain social order
  • Value the protection of civil rights through law
  • Stress the principle of ‘Equality before the law’
• Reasons to having the political system (Roman Republic)

  • To prevent absolute power
  • Increase the power of the majority
  • Didn’t want cruel kings