The Early Republic

Before the Republic

• What form of government preceded the Roman Republic?– Monarchy (753 BC – 509 BC)– The Republic traditionally began in 509 BC

What is a Republic?

• It comes from the Latin “res publica” (public matter)

• a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (Webster’s Dictionary)

Roman Republic

• There was a constitution; however, it was unwritten. Mainly the constitution was a set of practices and customs set on precedent.

• “A major cause of change was the long, yet successful, struggle of the common people, the plebs, to acquire legal and political equality with the upper-class patricians” (Ecce Romani)

The leaders of the Roman Republic

• Two consuls• One-year terms

• Why such short terms?– The Romans were wary of the monarchy. They did

not want a form of government where one person (rex, king) had unlimited power

• Lucius Junius Brutus • Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus

Two Consuls

Praetors

Aediles

Tribunes

quaestors

magistrates

Consuls and the Magistrates

• Consuls – head of civil government and generals of the army

• Praetors – directed judicial system• Aediles – supervised commerce and public

works• Tribunes – championed the lower class• Quaestors – handled financial matters

Censors

• Chosen every five years• Revised list of Senate members • Carried out the census (assigning citizens to

classes)

Cursus honorum

• “course of offices” – Roman political careers

• Think about political careers for American politicians. Is president usually the first elected office the person holds?

Cursus honorum

• Military service quaestor

praetor Senate

Consul Censor

The Senate

The Senate

• Senatus Populusque Romanus

The Senate

• An advisory council• Members were former magistrates– Once a man became a quaestor, he was eligible for

Senate membership• Although just “advised” consuls, the Senate did

have a large influence in the Roman government.

• Advised on finance and foreign policy• Served for life, unless expelled by censors

Exit Pass

• List two offices in the Roman Republic government.

• What does SPQR mean?