Alejandro Giron
Professor Underwood
U.S., Africa & the World 201
November 14, 2008
Roman and U.S. Government
Ancient Rome is probably the earliest example of democracy. The way their government was set up is very similar to that of the United States. This is the reason why the history of the Romans is so important. The Roman Republic (ancient Rome) had many different governmental positions that could check each other. The checks were in place to really make sure that no position had too much power over the other because the Romans were afraid of a one person ruler just like Americans are.
They had a senate that had a great amount of authority and their job was to consult on all major issues of the empire. The senate, also known as the magistrates, also became the most dominant force in areas such as religion, foreign policy, and political finances. Although the senate could not pass laws, their opinion was considered with much respect. The citizens of the nation participated in assemblies in which a bunch of people come together and discuss what laws should be passed and what laws should not. However, there was no free discussion between the people in the assembly, they only could discuss the laws that were presented by the magistrates. The people in these assemblies were chosen through a voting system. This voting system normally favored people who were rich and respected. The voting process is split into 193 voting blocks. Each voting block (also called centuries) were limited to one vote, and they the people of Rome were assigned to their voting block. The way the organized the people is by class, the richer the century, the less people to that century which made it easier for them to come together and decide who their vote would be for. However, the centuries for the poorer landless people had a greater population, because of that many people did not get their opinions heard.
One thing different between the Romans and the U.S. government is that the Romans did have a dictator. The dictator during the Republic did not have the negative connotations that the word dictator gives off today. They were simply in power to oversee the magistrates and to make sure everything is being handled correctly and they were only appointed by the magistrates during times of emergency. There were rules and regulations to becoming a dictator or. U had to be a former magistrate, which meant that you were qualified for the position and you could only hold the office for six months. Because the dictator was only in power for a short period of time, they do not have enough time to really stir anything up while in their position. They really only appointed a dictator when they were being invaded by foreign civilizations, during idle times, they only had the magistrates governing them.
Also similar to the U.S., their society favored the rich and practically disregarded the poor. The rich people were classified as patricians, these people were land owners and former military men. The poorer people were known as plebeians, these people either did not own as much land as the patricians or they just did not own their own land and they were working on the land of a patrician. There is a huge disagreement between the two classes of people. The plebeians are disgruntled because their opinion does not really count as much as the patricians. This is true because the patricians were really the only people that were able to be elected into the assemblies that decided the laws. Because they were in the assembly, of course they were going to do nothing but to look out for themselves. Another problem that the Roman society had was that the patricians stayed patricians and the plebeians stayed plebeians.
The U.S. government basically stole its basic organizations from the Romans. The magistrate is simply the congress and the temporary dictator is simple the president. The president, like the dictator is only elected for a small period of time. The difference between the two is that the Roman dictator was above all checks, but the fact that they were only in office for six months was a check itself. However, the president of the U.S. can be checked while in office, each branch of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) have different powers that are granted by them to make sure no one branch has more power than the other. I assume that this was something that the Americans put into place to try and make sure that our government doesn’t fail like the Roman government did.
Another thing that is similar between the U.S. government and the Roman government is the way that they elect their officials (mainly the dictator/president). In the United States, an election is held to elect the president where everyone n the country that is qualified and registered to vote can vote for the president candidate of their choice. Although an election is held, above the popular vote, the Electoral College is what really elects the president above all. This is similar to the Romans and the way that their dictator was put in position. The dictator is someone who was previous magistrate. This assures that the person has some kind of experience in the Roman government. The magistrates are the people who choose the dictators like the Electoral College chooses the president.
The governments of the Roman Republic and the U.S. are very similar to each other. Since Rome was the longest lasting ancient civilization, it is only logic to try and mimic the best and most efficient government and try and tweak it to make it even better. Different changes such ass the branches of government are just examples of the United States trying to make the best government so that they can be the strongest and longest lasting nation. By learning from the failure of great examples of an efficient government, we can successfully create the most elite and successful government through trial and error.
Works Cited
"Ancient Rome," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
"democracy." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 19 Nov. 2008..
Professor Underwood
U.S., Africa & the World 201
November 14, 2008
Roman and U.S. Government
Ancient Rome is probably the earliest example of democracy. The way their government was set up is very similar to that of the United States. This is the reason why the history of the Romans is so important. The Roman Republic (ancient Rome) had many different governmental positions that could check each other. The checks were in place to really make sure that no position had too much power over the other because the Romans were afraid of a one person ruler just like Americans are.
They had a senate that had a great amount of authority and their job was to consult on all major issues of the empire. The senate, also known as the magistrates, also became the most dominant force in areas such as religion, foreign policy, and political finances. Although the senate could not pass laws, their opinion was considered with much respect. The citizens of the nation participated in assemblies in which a bunch of people come together and discuss what laws should be passed and what laws should not. However, there was no free discussion between the people in the assembly, they only could discuss the laws that were presented by the magistrates. The people in these assemblies were chosen through a voting system. This voting system normally favored people who were rich and respected. The voting process is split into 193 voting blocks. Each voting block (also called centuries) were limited to one vote, and they the people of Rome were assigned to their voting block. The way the organized the people is by class, the richer the century, the less people to that century which made it easier for them to come together and decide who their vote would be for. However, the centuries for the poorer landless people had a greater population, because of that many people did not get their opinions heard.
One thing different between the Romans and the U.S. government is that the Romans did have a dictator. The dictator during the Republic did not have the negative connotations that the word dictator gives off today. They were simply in power to oversee the magistrates and to make sure everything is being handled correctly and they were only appointed by the magistrates during times of emergency. There were rules and regulations to becoming a dictator or. U had to be a former magistrate, which meant that you were qualified for the position and you could only hold the office for six months. Because the dictator was only in power for a short period of time, they do not have enough time to really stir anything up while in their position. They really only appointed a dictator when they were being invaded by foreign civilizations, during idle times, they only had the magistrates governing them.
Also similar to the U.S., their society favored the rich and practically disregarded the poor. The rich people were classified as patricians, these people were land owners and former military men. The poorer people were known as plebeians, these people either did not own as much land as the patricians or they just did not own their own land and they were working on the land of a patrician. There is a huge disagreement between the two classes of people. The plebeians are disgruntled because their opinion does not really count as much as the patricians. This is true because the patricians were really the only people that were able to be elected into the assemblies that decided the laws. Because they were in the assembly, of course they were going to do nothing but to look out for themselves. Another problem that the Roman society had was that the patricians stayed patricians and the plebeians stayed plebeians.
The U.S. government basically stole its basic organizations from the Romans. The magistrate is simply the congress and the temporary dictator is simple the president. The president, like the dictator is only elected for a small period of time. The difference between the two is that the Roman dictator was above all checks, but the fact that they were only in office for six months was a check itself. However, the president of the U.S. can be checked while in office, each branch of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) have different powers that are granted by them to make sure no one branch has more power than the other. I assume that this was something that the Americans put into place to try and make sure that our government doesn’t fail like the Roman government did.
Another thing that is similar between the U.S. government and the Roman government is the way that they elect their officials (mainly the dictator/president). In the United States, an election is held to elect the president where everyone n the country that is qualified and registered to vote can vote for the president candidate of their choice. Although an election is held, above the popular vote, the Electoral College is what really elects the president above all. This is similar to the Romans and the way that their dictator was put in position. The dictator is someone who was previous magistrate. This assures that the person has some kind of experience in the Roman government. The magistrates are the people who choose the dictators like the Electoral College chooses the president.
The governments of the Roman Republic and the U.S. are very similar to each other. Since Rome was the longest lasting ancient civilization, it is only logic to try and mimic the best and most efficient government and try and tweak it to make it even better. Different changes such ass the branches of government are just examples of the United States trying to make the best government so that they can be the strongest and longest lasting nation. By learning from the failure of great examples of an efficient government, we can successfully create the most elite and successful government through trial and error.
Works Cited
"Ancient Rome," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
"democracy." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 19 Nov. 2008.
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