Monarchy Vs. Democracy In Ancient Rome

According to document F, members of the Roman Senate consisted of about 300 men that served the duration of a lifetime. The Senate had primary responsibilities for foreign relations, making treaties, and creating alliances. They were responsible for war policy, and controlled lands. By the 3rd century BCE they had full governing power in Rome. Not all senators held equal status however. Those selected by Censor did not have a right to vote or speak on the Senate floor. Senators earned the proper dignity and nobility to vote and speak on the floor by virtue of holding various offices such as Consul. In contrast to the Roman Empire, the Athenian empire dealt with economic affair. They passed laws and had the power to declare war. Rome’s Senate was more effective in terms of pleasing the citizens due to the foreign relation position opening a way of trade. Making alliances was very vital for keeping peace among the other

Finally, Consuls were the highest officials. Rather than one person, the power of a consul was split between two people, who could veto, or forbid, each other’s decisions. The Race of Honors was entered by many people, each competing to become a consul and “win” the

The Roman government was democratic when it came to the citizens. The citizens could elect their own officials, and the officials were supposed to represent every level of Roman society. There were many types of officials. The two consuls were the chief officials of Rome. Once elected, they served for two years (Trueman, Chris). One of their most important powers was controlling the army (Government under Roman Republic). When they were unsure of a course of action, they were advised by the Senate, a council of around six hundred male citizens (Trueman, Chris). Those six hundred men were usually from wealthy patrician families and were the ones in charge of making the laws and controlling the spending. Contrary to the election of the other officials, the Senate was appointed by the current Consuls. Once they were appointed, they served for life. When one member died, another was chosen in their place (Government).

It was decided the soldiers would vote and the senate, which was at this time an advisory committee to the king, would ratify their choice. Thus, military campaigns carried on, led by elected officials, backed by the power of the people. This method became Roman custom and the idea that politicians were made by the people and were tasked with fulfilling their most basic needs, was woven into the identity of Rome. Eventually these elected monarchs morphed into two consuls, heads of state meant to lead armies into war and protect the interests of the people.

The consuls were the supreme power of authority with one year terms and could not be elected more than two times in a row and three times total. However, in situations of crisis, the Romans were led by a dictator who had complete power in a six month term. The Republic also had a senate, picked by the two consuls. The senators held their position for life and were responsible for taxes, funding laws, and foreign affairs. Next in line were the assembly, an elected body drawn from the citizens of Rome with two year terms and no term limits. The assembly occasionally made laws that had to be approved by the senate. The common people of Rome were called the Plebeians. The Plebeians served in the army, payed taxes, and had other citizen duties, but were not allowed to hold any important positions in office, unlike the Patricians who had all the rights. The Tribunes represented the voice of the Plebeians and were elected by the Plebeians. There were two Tribunes at a time with one year terms and had the power to veto any law. The Tribunes were “sacred” and left their doors open to the public to speak to them about any problems they might have

The Roman Republic was a “democratic” republic, which allowed first citizens to vote, and to choose their governors in the senate (Hence, their consuls). However, it was a nation ruled by its aristocracy, and, consequently, the entire Republic`s power was concentrated in a few individuals. Furthermore, the Senate was controlled by Patricians, which directed the government by using wealth to buy control and power over the decisions of the senate and the consuls. This situation aroused the inconformity of the people; as result, a civil war took place in the Republic (destroying it), and then the Roman Empire was born.

The Roman constitution has three elements, but their share of power was so well regulated people are still unsure whether the republic was a democracy (A democracy is a system of government in which people have the right to empower rules, usually through representatives) or more of an aristocracy (a form of government where the authority is held by the nobility) or a despotism (a form of government where the ruler has absolute power). Rome’s Republic lasted between 509 BC to 30 BC, which is 479 years. Rome had three divisions in their government that were the consul, senate, and the assembly. Rome’s Republic was not very democratic because they only elected prosperous, men, to hold “high” spots in the office, voting rights were restricted to some individuals, and the magistrates were in control of the military, but didn’t actually fight in the military.

However, due to its immense prestige, and the fact that all elected officials were Senators, nearly all Senate consultations were enacted as a matter of course. The Senate was further empowered to authorize the nomination of a dictator to deal with state emergencies. This was seen as an extreme measure, whereby a magistrate was given extraordinary authority as “dictator”. This “supreme magistrate” would possess unquestioned authority for a short time to handle important matters of state safety. The dictator thus served as both chief executive of the government and supreme commander of the army. Dictatorships were limited to six months, but generally the official resigned the office immediately upon the conclusion of the business for which he had been appointed. The practice was shunned during the later half of the Republic, as the Senate began to opt to avoid dictatorships by declaring “martial law”. The Senate then would move to empower consuls, who were the highest elected political and military magistrates, to protect the safety of the Republic. Power within the Roman Republic and its higher offices was limited and checked though a system of collegiality, the holding of the same office by at least two men, as found in the case of magistrates and consuls. In this manner it was felt that the tyranny of individuals could be checked. Also, the early Republic had no “standing army”, reducing both the cost and internal threat to the state. Consuls, of

The Roman citizens, Plebeians, had the final say on quite a few events in the government. The consul led the army, but he could not declare war. It was the citizens who had the final decision to go to war or have peace. Both the senate and Roman citizens could propose laws. Although, it was the people who decided on passing or repealing laws.

Julius Caesar took control of the government of Rome in 48 B.C.,before Julius Caesar the Roman Empire was ruled by two consuls who were elected by the citizens of Rome not the Emperor. In the republic there were three classes during this time the patricians ,plebeians ,and the slaves. Since patricians were citizens of the upper class they could vote,plebeians were also citizens and could also vote but unlike the patricians they had to do their own work rather than have a slave do it for them.Slaves weren't considered citizens ,they couldn't vote, weren't allowed to have money and weren't allowed freedom either. Women also were unable to vote. They also had magistrates who kept law and order, when they retired they became senators.Caesar became

It is said that the early civilization within Rome was ruled by a King, however soon the kings were replaced with Council. The Council, also known as the “Senate”, was made up of elected officials. The members of the Council ruled over the city and from thence forth were known as the Roman Republic, which lasted for around five hundred years.

Modern democracies give most of the power to the people, however, Rome’s democracy only gave a small

Prior to Octavius’ ascension to his power, the Roman society functioned as a republic, wherein assemblies and elected officials shared political prerogatives and balanced each other’s influence. The Senatus, composed of 300 Patricians of enormous wealth appointed by the Consuls, directed foreign and domestic affairs, managed public treasury, directed instructions to all magistrates save the Tribunus, and declared wars; however, the Tribunus Plebis, elected by the Plebeii, could veto any of its actions, and Censors could impeach its members. Its humbler counterpart, the Concilium Plebis, the popular assembly, enacted laws as the Republic’s ultimate legislative institution, yet, in reality, their legislation proved enforceable only with the cooperation of the Patrician magistrates. Meanwhile, the two Consuls functioned as the head of the entire government and the army, but each had only a single year term. Censors hold the power to eliminate senators, but they were elected by the Comitia

Like Carthage, Rome had two consuls. But instead of the consuls coming from an elite party, they were appointed by the popular assembly. The consuls commanded the army, ruled over the senate, and dealt with legislation. Rome also had a senate but it had limited legislative authority. Unlike Carthage, legislative authority was held by the popular assembly. The senate existed more for advisory purposes and discussing foreign policy strategies (Wasson, 2015).

Finally, we come to the focus of this report, that is, the Roman Senate. The Senate represented the aristocratic and elitist element of Roman government and was a collection of patrician citizens (the patrician/plebian conflict will be described in more depth later) who served as the legislative branch of the government as well as an advisory body. In the beginning of the Republic, the Senate contained 300 members, the members themselves were chosen from the patrician class, ex-consuls, and other officers who served for life. By the time that Julius Caesar gained power, the Senate's membership had increased to nearly 800 people.