The Roman Republic's Government

The Roman Republic’s Government System

The Roman Republic was an early example of an elected system of government; it was one of the first on planet earth. The Roman Republic was created in 366 BCE after a particularly evil and cruel king (Lucius Tarquinius Priscus) son raped a noble woman (who later committed suicide.) The Roman version of elected government was started when this happened. The Roman Republic was led by key government officials which included: the Consul’s, the Praetor’s, the Curale Aediles, the Questor’s and the Tribune’s.

The Roman Republic was led by a leading Roman public servant called a Consul. The previous system of dictator led military tribunes with consular powers to switch to a republican system where two consuls were chosen each year, beginning in 366BCE. [1] The first Roman Consul’s were named Brutus and Collantes.[2] They were elected entirely by popular vote, they held office for only one year at a time and finally they held office together(all very unkinglike.)The Roman Consul’s were considered “Chief Magistrates” and Console’s coming from a well-known and aristocratic family was almost mandatory in Rome.[3] These Consul’s, during their year in office, were mainly functioning as generals. Rome’s Consul terms started in March and ended in February.[4] This was because the Roman Campaign season started in April, fighting in wars in the winter was generally a bad idea (except for Hannibal). This was because the harsh winter made it hard to get food to troops and some troops froze to death in the winter. Roman armies were raised in April, so the Roman Consul’s needed to be appointed before the campaign season started.[5] Roman Consul’s could be recognized by their purple silk robe that clearly distinguished them. The next Roman Servant/Public consequently that was added was the Praetor.

The Praetor was a high-ranking Roman Public official. The Praetor was created by the Licinian-Sextian reform’s.[6] There was one Praetor elected each year. Praetor’s could also lead a Roman Army.[7]  The Praetor was viewed as some sort of “Public Judge.” or “father of the aristocratic family.”[8] Preator’s were the second highest government official and also were the leading governmental figure when the Consul’s weren’t in Rome.[9]  They were allowed to “ask the god’s” what to do and if the “gods approved of them.” They got their “advice from the gods” by practicing the ancient practice rituals of divination. The particular word for this is auspices. The Praetor’s had almost unlimited power when on campaign but had limited power within the boundaries of Rome. Further, the Curale Aediles were the next highest ranking Roman official.

The Curale Aediles were consisted of two elected Roman Citizen’s which were typically two Plebian’s and two aristocrats. The Aediles managed and ran the Roman streets and temples.  They managed the Roman Fire Brigade, ran the temple of Jupiter and finally managed the Roman markets. [10] Another office in Rome was the office called Questor’s.

The Questor’s managed public money throughout Rome. The Questor’s was an office that dated back to the fifth century of Rome.[11] They mainly supervised the Roman Treasury. The Roman Treasury was located in the Temple of Saturn. The Questor’s managed the funds that Roman’s used in the Roman Consul/Praetor’s campaign’s.[12] The final office in the Roman Republic, finally, was the Tribunes.

The Tribune’s were Roman Plebian’s who were consisted of ten elected Plebian officials. The Tribune’s had a right to “Veto” Roman government official decisions or action’s that the Roman’s viewed as inappropriate. The “Tribune” was invented as a new type of magistrate to create more equality throughout Rome. [13] They had a special protection against being attacked or killed (It was expressly prohibited.) They had many restrictions preventing them from leaving the city of Rome for the vast majority of their time in office. Later, between 300-400BCE, Tribunes were responsible for Roman laws.[14]

The Roman Republic’s government is vastly different than modern day government’s; but it’s presiding ideas of elected representation influenced the modern day west. The United State’s Senate comes from the Roman Senate. The Roman Republic influenced later generations by changing what was possible, by creating new offices, and by creating order over an empire that changed the world. The Roman Republic’s most influential position was the Consul. The Consul were two elected officials who led the armies and the Roman government. They were the most powerful Roman official and they dressed in purple togas.

Bibliography

Boatwright, Mary T., Daniel J. Gargola, Noel Lenski, and Richard J. A. Talbert. The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Ancient Rome from Earliest Times to Constantine. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Winks, Robin W. The Ancient Mediterranean World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.

Platt, Mary. A Short History of Italy. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1918.

Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. New York: Liveright Publishing, 2015.

[1] Mary T. Boatwright et al., The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Ancient Rome from Earliest Times to Constantine, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 60.

[2] Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (New York: Liveright Publishing, 2015). 127.

[3] Robin W. Winks and Susan P. Mattern-Parkes, The Ancient Mediterranean World: From the Stone Age to A.D. 600 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 123.

[4]Mary T. Boatwright et al., The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Ancient Rome from Earliest Times to Constantine, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 60.

[5] Ibid 60

[6] Ibid 61.

[7] Ibid 62.

[8] Robin W. Winks and Susan P. Mattern-Parkes, The Ancient Mediterranean World: From the Stone Age to A.D. 600 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 123.

[9] Mary T. Boatwright et al., The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Ancient Rome from Earliest Times to Constantine, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 61.

[10] Ibid 62.

[11] Ibid 62.

[12] Ibid 62.

[13]  Robin W. Winks and Susan P. Mattern-Parkes, The Ancient Mediterranean World: From the Stone Age to A.D. 600 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 123.

[14] Mary T. Boatwright et al., The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Ancient Rome from Earliest Times to Constantine, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 62.