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Today in Western Civilization we took notes. Here are the notes I took.

Patricians

Rule of Kings is replaced by rule of two consuls

-Consuls are elected officials

-Term of office: one year

-Always aristocrats (patricians)

-Patricians 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)

Plebeians

-Fifth 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

-Plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials

-Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs

-Patricians cold interpret these to 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 – 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/ USA

-Originally, the US modeled their new government on the model used by the ancient Romans

-Not exactly the same

-But both have 3 branches of government

            -Executive

            -Legislative

            -Judicial

-And both have a legal code

3 branches (1) – Rome/USA

Rome

-Executive

            -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

-Executive

            -President (and VP)

            -Four-year terms

            -Can veto proposed laws

            -Commander in Chief

3 branches (2) – Rome/USA

Rome

-Legislative

            -Senate – 300 people – aristocrats – members for life

            -Assemblies

USA

-Legislative

            -Senate – 100 senates (two from each state) six-year terms

            -House of Representatives – 435 members

3 branches (3) – Rome/USA

Rome

-Judicial

            -Praetors

            -Chosen by the Centuriate Assembly

            -One-year terms

USA

-Judicial

            -Supreme Court

            -Nine members

            -Appointment by the president, confirmed by the Senate

-Lifetime terms

Legal Code – Rome/USA

Rome

-Twelve Tables

-Publically displayed

-Gave rights to plebeians, not just aristocrats

-Only protected free – born male citizens (not women)

USA

-Bill of Rights

-First ten amendments to Constitution