The Roman Republic had three branches of government: the Senate as the advisory branch, legislative branch composed of three assemblies (Curiate, Centuriate, and Tribal), and executive branch made up of annually elected magistrates like consuls and praetors. The most important legislative assembly was the Centuriate Assembly, which was based on wealth and age and elected censors and magistrates. The executive branch offices were collegial with annual tenure and imperium.

1. The Roman
Republic
By Kevin Edralin
For Mr. Haskvitz

2. The Roman Government
• In 509 B.C., the Romans expelled their
Etruscan kings and established the
Republic. Having witnessed the problems
of monarchy on their own land, and
aristocracy and democracy among the
Greeks, the Romans opted for a mixed
form of government, with three branches
of government which parallels the modern
American division of executive, legislative,
and judicial branches.

3. The SenateThe Senate
 Senate was the advisory branch of theSenate was the advisory branch of the
Roman government, initially composed ofRoman government, initially composed of
about 300 citizens who served for life. Theabout 300 citizens who served for life. The
ranks of the Senate were drawn from ex-ranks of the Senate were drawn from ex-
consuls and other officers who served forconsuls and other officers who served for
life.life.

4. The Legislative Branch
 Composed of Three Assemblies
 all 3 assemblies included the entire
electorate, but each had a different
internal organization
 all 3 assemblies made up of voting units;
the single vote of each voting unit
determined by a majority of the voters in
that unit; measures passed by a simple
majority of the units.

5. Curiate AssemblyCuriate Assembly
 units of organizationunits of organization
 based on clan and family associations.based on clan and family associations.
 became obsolete as a legislative body butbecame obsolete as a legislative body but
preserved functions of endowing seniorpreserved functions of endowing senior
magistrates with imperium and witnessingmagistrates with imperium and witnessing
religious affairs.religious affairs.
 The head of each curia ages at least 50 andThe head of each curia ages at least 50 and
elected for life; assembly effectively controledelected for life; assembly effectively controled
by patricians, partially through clientela.by patricians, partially through clientela.

6. Centuriate AssemblyCenturiate Assembly
 most important; based on wealth and age;most important; based on wealth and age;
 originally military units with membership basedoriginally military units with membership based
on capability to furnish armed men in groups ofon capability to furnish armed men in groups of
100100
 elected censors and magistrates with imperiumelected censors and magistrates with imperium
 proper body for declaring war;proper body for declaring war;
 passed some laws served as highest court ofpassed some laws served as highest court of
appeal in cases involving capital punishment.appeal in cases involving capital punishment.
 assembly controlled by landed aristocracy.assembly controlled by landed aristocracy.

7. Tribal AssemblyTribal Assembly
 originally for election of tribunes andoriginally for election of tribunes and
deliberation of plebeians; units of organization:deliberation of plebeians; units of organization:
 the urban and 31 rural tribes, based on placethe urban and 31 rural tribes, based on place
of residence until 241 B.C., thereafter localof residence until 241 B.C., thereafter local
significance largely lost; elected lowersignificance largely lost; elected lower
magistrates (tribunes, aediles, quaestors)magistrates (tribunes, aediles, quaestors)
 assembly controlled by landed aristocracy.assembly controlled by landed aristocracy.

8. The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch
 all offices were collegial. All members of aall offices were collegial. All members of a
college were of equal rank and could veto actscollege were of equal rank and could veto acts
of other members; higher magistrates could vetoof other members; higher magistrates could veto
acts of lower magistrates.acts of lower magistrates.
 the number of members changes over time.the number of members changes over time.
Annual tenure: With the exception of theAnnual tenure: With the exception of the
dictatorship (6 months) and the censorship (18dictatorship (6 months) and the censorship (18
months), the term of office was limited to onemonths), the term of office was limited to one
year. The rules for holding office for multiple oryear. The rules for holding office for multiple or
sucessive terms were a matter of considerablesucessive terms were a matter of considerable
contention over time.contention over time.

9. Offices of the Legislative BranchOffices of the Legislative Branch
 CONSULS (2): chief civil and military magistrates; invested withCONSULS (2): chief civil and military magistrates; invested with imperiumimperium .consular.consular
imperiumimperium was considered greater than that of praetors convened senate and curiatewas considered greater than that of praetors convened senate and curiate
and centuriate assemblies.and centuriate assemblies.
 PRAETORS (2-8): hadPRAETORS (2-8): had imperiumimperium; main functions (1) military commands (2); main functions (1) military commands (2)
administered civil law at Rome.administered civil law at Rome.
 AEDILES (2): plebian and curule in charge of religious festivals, public games,AEDILES (2): plebian and curule in charge of religious festivals, public games,
temples, upkeep of city, regulation of marketplaces, grain supply.temples, upkeep of city, regulation of marketplaces, grain supply.
 QUAESTORS (2-40): financial officers and administrative assistants (civil andQUAESTORS (2-40): financial officers and administrative assistants (civil and
military); in charge of state treasury at Rome; in field, served as quartermasters andmilitary); in charge of state treasury at Rome; in field, served as quartermasters and
seconds- in-command.seconds- in-command.
 TRIBUNES (2-10): charged with protection of lives and property of plebians; theirTRIBUNES (2-10): charged with protection of lives and property of plebians; their
persons were inviolable (sacrosanct); had power ofpersons were inviolable (sacrosanct); had power of vetoveto (Lat. "I forbid") over(Lat. "I forbid") over
elections, laws, decrees of the senate, and the acts of all other magistrates (exceptelections, laws, decrees of the senate, and the acts of all other magistrates (except
dictator); convened tribal assembly and elicited plebiscites, which after 287 B.C. haddictator); convened tribal assembly and elicited plebiscites, which after 287 B.C. had
force of law.force of law.
 CENSORS (2): elected every 5 years to conduct census, enroll new citizens, reviewCENSORS (2): elected every 5 years to conduct census, enroll new citizens, review
roll of senate; controlled public morals and supervised leasing of public contracts; inroll of senate; controlled public morals and supervised leasing of public contracts; in
protocol ranked below praetors and above aediles, but in practice, the pinnacle of aprotocol ranked below praetors and above aediles, but in practice, the pinnacle of a
senatorial career enormous prestige and influencesenatorial career enormous prestige and influence
 DICTATOR (1): in times of military emergency appointed by consuls; dictatorDICTATOR (1): in times of military emergency appointed by consuls; dictator
appointed a Master of the Horse to lead cavalry; tenure limited to 6 months orappointed a Master of the Horse to lead cavalry; tenure limited to 6 months or
duration of crisis, whichever was shorter; not subject to veto.duration of crisis, whichever was shorter; not subject to veto.

10. AssessmentAssessment
 What are the three branches of theWhat are the three branches of the
Roman Government?Roman Government?
 What are the three assemblies of one ofWhat are the three assemblies of one of
the branches?the branches?