5/5/15

 Today in class we talked more about Rome. Here are the notes i took:

Rule of kings is replaced by rule of two consuls

• Consuls are elected officials
• Term of office: one year
• Always aristocrats (patricians)
• Patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, or pater ("father")
• Duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army
• One consul could veto the other

Fifth century BCE

• patrician dominance of the government was challenged be the plebs
• Plebs were 98% of the population
• Plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials
• Rome had no actual laws, just written customs
• Patricians could interpret these to their own advantage

Plebs refused to serve in military

• Laws were written out
• These laws were posted in public (in 450 BCE)
• Tribunes were elected

SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanum

• Designates any decree or decision made by "the Roman Senate and People

New Republic

• Democracy (the people's assembly and the tribunes)
• Aristocracy ( the Senate - approx. 300 members)
• Monarchy (the consuls)

Gov't.: Ancient Rome / USA

• Originally, the US modeled their new government on the model used by the Ancient Romans
• Not exactly the same
• Both have three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial)
• Both have a legal code

Executive(Rome)                                        

• Two consuls                             
• One year terms
• Each has veto power
• Controls the military
• Could appoint a dictator in a crisis for 6 months

Legislative

• Senate - 300 people - aristocrats
• Assemblies - 193 members

Judicial

• Praetors
• Chosen by the Centuriate Assembly
• One-year terms

Legal Code

• Twelve Tables

Executive(USA)

• President (and VP)
• Four year terms
• Can veto proposed laws
• Commander-in-Chief

Legislative

• Senate - 100 senators (two from each state)
• House of Representatives -  435 members

Judicial

• Supreme court
• Nine members
• Appointed by the President
• Lifetime terms

Legal Code

• Bill of Rights