The Roman Empire was one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in the ancient world, and its form of government was the result of centuries of evolution. The concept of what type of government the Romans developed over time, and their government changed many times over the course of their history. Ancient Rome was a republic, a democratic government in which the citizens of Rome could elect representatives to represent them in the government. The Roman Senate was the chief organ of power in Rome, with the Emperor being in control of the army and courts. While the Senate was predominantly composed of wealthy patricians, yet it was not uncommon for plebeians to rise to its positions of authority. This two-tier structure of government was explained by the political theorist, Cicero: “No comitiam, or assembly, can be constituted without both patrician and plebeian representatives”.
The Senate held considerable power, such as the ability to pass laws, decree certain actions to be taken and heard cases in court. The Senate also held control over the finances including taxes, military funds and public works. The Senate also elected two consuls, who would have equal executive power. Every year any one of the thousands of citizens could be chosen to serve as consuls, which meant that Rome had a true democratic system. The Senate also helped to limit the power of the monarch, so no one person or family in Rome could become overly powerful or corrupt.
In addition to the Senate, there were various other government officials such as the Censors, the Tribunes, the Aedile and the Quaestors. The Censors were responsible for keeping an updated list of the population, while the Tribunes were elected representatives who were to look after the interests of the plebeians. The Aediles were elected to supervise public festivals and affairs while the Quaestors were the financial officers of the Senate.
The expansion of Rome during the first few centuries of its history led to the formation of assemblies representing the various regions. The most important of these bodies were the assemblies that were formed by representatives of the people from other provinces. These assemblies, known as the Comitia Tributa, or Tribal Assemblies, had the power to pass laws and veto bills passed by the Senate. This form of government brought a degree of democracy to Roman politics that ensured that power was in the hands of the people.
Despite the fact that Rome was a republic, it was not without its flaws. Corruption and greed for power led to the weakening of the system, and eventually the rise of Caesar and the end of the Republic. Many of the structures from the Republic, though, were still present during the early Imperial period. Emperors held autocratic powers, yet they were often restrained by councils and magistrates, who held power and could be subject to checks and balances.
Much of the government of Rome was still held by elected officials, with the Emperor as the chief executive. The Emperor also had the right to nominate and appoint his own advisors and advisors and had the right to veto any Senate decision. The Senate still had a considerable amount of power and authority, but they were greatly restrained by the Emperor and his advisors.
The demarcation between the authorities of the Senate and the Emperor created an atmosphere of tension and infighting. This was further aggravated by the fact that the Emperor often had his own supporters in the Senate and his own immediate family members in certain positions of authority.
Later Roman Government
Rome underwent several changes to its government as it shifted from being a Republic to an Empire and then back again to a Republic. One significant change was the weakening of the powers of the Senate and the greater emphasis placed on the position of Emperor. The emperor was given more powers and authority, and he had the right to appoint magistrates, pass laws and exercise his military will to conquer additional territory.
The centralization of the government was a characteristic of the Roman Empire, and this system evolved over the centuries until Diocletian reorganised the government in the late 3rd century. Diocletian’s reign marked a crucial change in Roman government, as the Roman Empire was divided into several provinces and each province was further divided into smaller administrative divisions. Each province was headed by an imperial governor, usually selected from the upper classes of Roman society such as the Equestrians, who held considerable powers and privileges.
Diocletian believed that by dividing the Empire into smaller administrative divisions, with the different clubs vying against each other, it would be easier to control and ensure that the Emperor maintained his absolute powers. He also introduced the tetrarchy, whereby four emperors – two senior emperors and two junior emperors – would rule the Roman Empire.
Christianity and Roman Government
The rise of Christianity in the 4th century led to a further alteration of the Roman government, with the Emperor Constantine I enacting several decisions that had far-reaching effects. Constantine I declared Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire, and he also granted freedom of religion to those who opted for Christianity or other faiths. This marked a significant change in the structure and nature of the Roman government, as religious aspects became very important and affected public policy.
Constantine I created a system whereby the Church had great influence in the public policy making and the administration of justice. He established the role of the Pope, and he granted the Church the right to appoint magistrates, bishops and other religious officials. He also made the Church the official record keeper for Romano-Christian information, and provided legal advice to those in need.
The power of the Church increased over time, with the Pope and bishops gaining more authority over the matters of everyday life. This had the effect of strengthening the powers of the Church, and the position of the Pope was enhanced as well. The Church also had a great influence over the administration of justice, and its decisions had tangible legal effects.
Byzantine Government
The late Roman Empire expanded into the eastern Mediterranean region and became known as the Byzantine Empire. The government system of the Byzantine Empire was heavily influenced by ideas inherited from the Roman Empire, with the Emperor holding supreme executive power. The Emperor also had the right to appoint and dismiss his officials and to veto the decisions of the Senate. The Senate was still active in the Byzantine Empire, but its power was much weaker than the Roman Senate, and it had more of an advisory role than an executive one.
The Byzantine Empire adopted Christianity as the official state religion and the Church had great influence over public policy. The Church also had the right to appoint its own bishops and priests, and its decisions had legal effects. However, the Church was not granted the same degree of authority or influence as it was in the Roman Empire.
The Byzantine Empire also adopted many of the Roman legal systems and laws, and it retained the division of the provinces into administrative divisions. This division of power ensured that the power of the Emperor was not absolute, and that there remained a check and balance system between the Emperor and the various organs of government.
Decline of the Roman Empire
The decline and fall of the Roman Empire was a long and gradual process, and it was caused by many factors such as internal unrest, political corruption, economic decline and invasions by foreign powers. The decline of the Roman Empire was marked by the weakening of the powers of the Senate and the increasing authority of the Emperors. This process accelerated during the rule of Diocletian, and the fall of Rome had a great impact on the state of government and administration in the Empire.
The Roman law system also declined over the centuries, and this had the effect of weakening the authority of the Senate and the Emperors. This led to a situation where the laws were enforced more loosely, and the courts had less authority. By the early 5th century, the Roman law system had all but collapsed, and the Roman Empire was in the state of chaos and disarray.
The fall of the Roman Empire had a great impact on the form and nature of government, as the Senate and other organs of government had been effectively abolished. The Senate was replaced by the imperial court, and the Emperor had even more control and power. The Church was still influential, but its powers had been greatly diminished, and the decline of law and order throughout the Empire had a great impact on the way in which law and justice were administered.
Post Roman Government
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the various regions that arose from its decline adopted different forms of government. In some areas, the parliamentary systems survived, in others, monarchical rule was established, or in the case of the Byzantine Empire, autocratic rule was maintained. Each region had its own customs and political structure, but the decline of the Roman Empire and the weakening of its law and administration system led to a situation where the political landscape was quite different from the one that had existed a few centuries before.
The decline of the Roman Empire has also had a great impact on modern governments, as it has provided a historical example of how a great empire can decline due to internal unrest, political corruption and external invasions. It has also provided a lesson in how autocratic rule can be disastrous if it is not balanced by other organs of government and how law and order can be weakened if it is not supported by a strong legal system. Ultimately, the decline of the Roman Empire has had a great impact on the development of government and administration in the modern world.
Legacy of the Roman Government
The legacy of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire is still very much alive today, as many of its systems and laws have influenced the way in which governments have evolved in the centuries since its fall. The concept of democracy, for example, was pioneered by the citizens of Rome, and the concept of a Senate is still very much alive in many nations today. The concept of a tripartite system of government is also derived from the Roman Republic, and it has been adopted by many governments around the world.
Other aspects of the Roman government, such as the notion of legal equality under the law, the notion of personal freedom and the concept of justice, are still relevant today. The Roman legal system also has a great influence on modern legal systems, as many of the principles and laws that were used in the Roman Empire are still applicable to modern day societies.
In short, the legacy of the Roman Empire and its form of government is very much alive today, and many of its structures and laws can still be seen in the political systems and laws of the modern world. This legacy demonstrates the immense impact of the Roman government on the evolution of government and administration for centuries to come.
