Daily 27

What elements of the Roman Republican political and legal system appear present in the systems of modern democracies?

     There were many elements of the Roman Republican political and legal system that appear present in the systems of modern democracies. When the Patricians and the Plebeians were fighting over power, they came up with an idea called the Struggle of Orders. This gave the common class, the Plebeians, more power because they were allowed one person, called the Tribune of the Plebes, to be part of their Senate. He had the power to veto ideas that anyone in the Senate came up with. The United States has a similar way of doing this as well. A law can be written, but if the President does not approve of it he can veto it. We also vote for people to represent us in the government, like the Romans did. In Rome there was a group called the Assembly of the Tribes. This group was based on geographical location. This, in part, is how Americans vote for Congressmen and Senators. The Congressmen represent a group of people based on where they live. There was also an Assembly of Centuries for the Romans. This was made up of families and tribes. They created allies and worked together. This is similar to the parties in our government. Republicans and Democrats are like the tribes. Within these groups, people work together and vote for similar people to represent them. The Romans also came up with SPQR, which means the Senate and the People of Rome, which is still intact today. There were many elements of the Roman Republican political and legal system that appear in modern democracies.