1. Chapter 17 Section 3 The Government of the Republic

2. Anticipatory Set
We have learned about many different types of government
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Republic
What were the forms of government in Rome?
At different period Rome has had all of these government types
Today we are going to learn how Rome began moving towards a democracy

3. Standards S.S. 6.7.2 E-LA Reading 6.1.3
Describe the government of the Roman Republic and its significance (e.g. written constitution and tripartite government, checks and balances, civic duty).
E-LA Reading 6.1.3
Recognize the origins and meanings of frequency used foreign words in English and use these words accurately in speaking and writing.

4. Objective
Students will learn about the government of the Roman Republic. They will learn that Rome had three branches representing three types of government: monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy.

5. Language of the Discipline
Tripartite
Dictator
Cincinnatus
Veto
Constitution
Checks and balances

6. Tripartite Government (Input)
The Roman Republic has a tripartite, or three-part government
Magistrates
Senate
Assembly

7. The Magistrates (Input)
The magistrates were the main officials of the Roman Republic
They represented the tradition of a monarchy
2 consuls served as the top magistrates
They were elected for 1 year terms leading the government and the army, while also acting as judges and high priests
Magistrates also occupied the position the king formally had. They had the power to block the other’s decisions, so they had to work together to get things done

8. The Magistrates (Input)
When consuls left for war they appointed a dictator to serve in their place
A dictator is a ruler with unlimited power
The dictators served for 6 month periods or less
During a war a former soldier was appointed dictator. His name was Cincinnatus. He raised an army, defeated the enemy, and handed power back to the consuls in just 16 days.
The lower officials managed specific areas of government, such as collected taxes or maintenance of the road

9. The Senate (Input) The senate was the 2nd branch of government
It represented the tradition of oligarchy
The senate continued to advise the consuls, control state finances, and passed laws
The original Roman Senate had 300 members who served for life
They came from the oldest and richest patrician families in Rome
Over time, the entrance of wealthy plebeians caused the Senate to grow

10. The Senate (Input)

11. The Assemblies (Input)
2 assemblies made up the third branch of government
The 2 groups represented the democratic element
The Centuriate Assembly developed from a system that placed all men in classes according to how much military equipment they could provide
Wealthy patricians gained more votes than plebeians could afford less equipment

12. The Assemblies (Input)
In the Tribal Assembly, the plebeians were in charge
Over time they became a powerful force in Rome
It elected tribunes, who had the power to veto other branches
A veto is the power to reject a proposed action or law. It means “I forbid”

13. The Roman Constitution (Input)
The powers of the branches were adjusted according to the Roman constitution
A constitution is a set of laws and principles that forma basis for a government
The Roman constitution included laws and practices that formed over time, unlike the U.S. constitution that is a single written document

14. The Roman Constitution (Input)

15. Checks and Balances (Input)
The basic principles of the Roman constitution evolved during the Struggle of the Orders
One principle was checks and balances
Checks and balances represent a means for keeping any one branch of a government from gaining more power than the others
No one branch could become too powerful
Each consul had the power to veto the other
This is a key feature of the U.S. government today

16. The Rule of Law (Input) The second basic principle was the rule of law
With the passage of the Twelve Tables, Romans accepted the idea that they should be ruled by written laws, rather than whims of judges
Over time the Roman law changed to give rights to the common people
The law code was altered to allow plebeians to marry patricians and for one consul to be a plebeian
Later laws prohibited debt bondage and allowed plebeians to become priests

17. The Lex Hortensia (Input)
Plebeians won a great passage of a law called the Lex Hortensia which gave the Tribal Assembly the power to pass laws without the approval of the Senate or consuls
The Roman Republic then became a democracy at least in theory
In reality the patricians still dominated the government
Members of the old aristocracy controlled the Senate and held most of the magistrate positions. They also dominated the Centuriate Assembly and had influence over the Tribal Assembly
Most Roman citizens remained loyal to the Republic
As long as the plebeians had the right to vote in their assembly, they felt like they had a role in the system

18. Check for Understanding
Please determine the BEST answer for the following question.
Please write your answer on your white boards and wait for the teacher’s signal.
On the teacher’s signal, hold up your white boards.

19. Checking for Understanding #1
Fill in the blank
_______________ the power to reject a proposed action or law
Veto

20. Checking for Understanding #2
Answer the following question.
Two assemblies made up the ___________ branch of government.
Third

21. Checking for Understanding #3
Answer the following question.
Why were checks and balances important to the Roman government?
Check and balances were important because no one branch could become too powerful

22. Guided Practice/Independent Practice
Complete questions on the reading comprehension worksheet.
Raise your hand and wait to get stamped.
If you received an “R” go to the back table with Ms. Graham.
Independent Practice
Once you have been stamped moved to independent practice and complete numbers 4 and 5 on the reading comprehension worksheet.
Homework
Note-taking guide on the reverse side.