May 5, 2015: Notes

Today in class we took more notes on Rome.

Three Governments in One
Rule of kings replaced by the rule of two consuls
- consuls are elected officials
- terms of office; one year
- always aristocrats (Patricians)
- Patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, or pater ("Father")

Challenge from "regular folks"
- fifth century B.C.E. - Patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the Plebs ("people")
- Plebs were 98% of the population

How did the Patricians dominate?
- Plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office
- Plebs were threatened with debt slavery
- Plebs had no legal rights

No Legal Rights 
- Plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials
- Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs
- Patricians could interpret these to their own advantage

Plebs refused to serve in the military until
- Laws were written out (The Law of the Twelve Tables)
- These Laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 B.C.E.)
- Tribunes ("tribal Leaders") were elected

SPQR
- SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanum
- Designates any decree or decision made by "The Roman Senate and people"

Res Publica - The people's affair 
Brand new republic, ready to run
- democracy (the people's assembly and the tribunes)
- aristocracy (The Senate - approx. 300 members)
- plus monarchy (the consuls)
- not a tyranny

Ancient Rome/USA
- Originally, the US modeled their new government on the model used by the ancient Romans
- not exactly the same
- both had three branches of government
   - executive
   - legislative
   - judicial
- Both have a legal code

3 branches in 1 Rome/US

SPQR - executive                                                        USA - executive
- two consuls                                                                - president (and VP)
- one year term                                                             - Four year term
- each has veto power                                                   - Can veto proposed laws
- controls the military                                                   - Commander-in-chief
- could appoint a dictator in crisis

for a six-month term 

Legislative                                                                   Legislative 

- Senate: 300 people - members for                            - Senate: 100 Senators (six year term)

life                                                                               - House of representatives: 435 members - two 

- Assemblies: 193 members - members                        year terms 

for life 

Judicial                                                                          Judicial 

- Praetors                                                                       - Supreme Court 

- Chosen by the Centuriate Assembly                          - Nine members

- One year term                                                             - Appointed by the president, conformed by the 

                                                                                        Senate 

                                                                                      - Lifetime terms