Roman Republic System

How long did it last?

 500 years

What did it allow?

citizens to elect representatives

Who controlled the Republic?

two consuls and a senate made up of wealthy elites

Senators

* chosen by citizens
* most held their position for life
* they elected consuls and acted as lawmakers
* made decisions on spending and taxes

Consuls

* served one year terms
* they oversaw the gov and its officials

Society in Republic

divided into 2 classes: Patricians and Plebeians

Why was the Republic never a pure democracy?

* only male citizens could vote
* women couldn’t vote
* Plebeians had no role in gov at first

When did Plebeians get involved?

Plebeians electde Tribunes who could veto laws from senate

* they eventually could become consuls

memorize

* although the republic fell and an emperor rose to power
* many modern-day gov are modeled after it