May 5

Rule of the king is replaced by the rule of two consuls ("gotta be better than one") 

• consuls are elected officials 
• term of office: one year- ten years later could run again 
• always aristocrats (patricians) 
• patrician traced their descent from a famous ancestor or pater ("Father")
• duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army
• one consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual) 

A Challenge from the "regular folks" 

• 5th century BCE- 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," you say?

• plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trails
• Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs
• Patricians could interpret these on their own advantage 

So, 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 BCE) 
• tribunes ("tribal leaders") were elected 

SPQR- Senatus Populusque Romanum

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

Res publica- means the people's affairs 

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 

Gov't.: ancient Roman vs. USA 

• originally, the US modeled their new gov. on the model used by ancient Romans 
• both had three branches of government - executive, legislative, judicial
• both have legal code- Twelve Tables, Constitution, Bill of Rights 

Executive

Rome: 

• two consuls 
• one year terms
• each has veto power 
• controls the military 
• could appoint a dictator in a crisis for a six-month term 

USA:

• President and VP 
• four year terms 
• can veto proposed laws 
• Commander- in- Chief 

Legislative

SPQR:

• Senate - 300 members- aristocrats- members for life
• Assemblies- members for life 

USA: 

• Senate- 100 senators (2 from each state- six year term) 
• House of Representatives (435 members -two year terms) 

Judicial

SPQR:

• Praetors 
• chosen by the Centuriate Assembly
• one year term 

USA: 

• Supreme Court 
• nine members 
• appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
• lifetime terms 

Legal code

Twelve Tables 

• publically  displayed 
•  gave rights to plebeians, not just aristocrats
• only protected free-born male citizens (not women) 

Bill of Rights 

• First ten amendments of the constitution