Roman Government and Society And Roman Geography

Objectives Who were the consuls? What are checks and balances? Why did the Romans create them? How did the Roman Senate gain power? What was the name of Rome’s first written law code Why did the Romans want their laws written down? What kinds of activities took place in the Roman Forum?

Magistrates were elected officials of Rome. Terms and People Magistrates were elected officials of Rome. Consuls were the two most powerful magistrates; they ran the city and the army. Roman Senate was a group of wealthy citizens that advised the magistrates. veto is a cancelation of a law.

Latin was the language of the Romans. Terms and People Latin was the language of the Romans. Checks and balances are north Forum was the public area of Rome.

Early Rome was governed by an Etruscan king, but he was cruel and they overthrew him. The Roman aristocracy set up a new type of government, called a republic. It was mostly run by a senate. However, only the Patricians, Roman aristocracy, could vote. During difficult times, the Romans also elected dictators for six-month periods. Two consuls ran the city and the army. They replaced the king.

We better change things before they revolt. The Senate The Assembly The Tribune We better change things before they revolt. But we’ll give you guys assemblies. They’ll elect the magistrates. We’ll keep the Senate and make the laws as we’ve always done. We’re pretty unhappy. We don’t have any power. And we will elect a tribune, who can veto your laws. Patricians Plebes

Because no one part has all the power, it is called “limited government.” Each part was given specific areas of power. Each part checks and balances the power in another part.

Eventually, they wrote it all down on twelve stones, called the twelve tables. It was a sort of constitution for Rome.

The Roman Republic, even after all men won the vote, is quite different from the democracy of the Greeks.