{"id":9125,"date":"2023-10-26T23:30:13","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T22:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9125"},"modified":"2023-10-26T23:30:13","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T22:30:13","slug":"what-types-of-government-did-ancient-rome-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-types-of-government-did-ancient-rome-have\/","title":{"rendered":"What Types Of Government Did Ancient Rome Have"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roman Republic<\/h2>\n

The Ancient Roman government of the Roman Republic was originally comprised of two main institutions: the Senate and the Assemblies. The Senate was composed of Patricians, or members of the upper social class, while the Assemblies were made up of all the citizens of Rome. The Senate was the chief governing body and was responsible for setting policies and managing foreign affairs. The Assemblies, however, had the right to pass laws on their own and approve or reject the Senate’s proposals.
\nThe primary positions of power in the Roman Republic government were held by two annual elected magistrates, known as the Consuls. The Consuls served as the chief executive and judicial branches of the government and held authority over the military and foreign affairs. They also had the right to veto each other. This system helped to keep each other in check.
\nThe Roman Senate was by far the most powerful body in the Roman Republic government. It was made up of 300 members from the Patrician class, and the senators were elected for life. The Senate was responsible for enacting laws, determining foreign policy, making treaties, and providing advice and counsel to the two Consuls.<\/p>\n

Roman Empire<\/h2>\n

After the fall of the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire was established with the support of Julius Caesar. Under this form of government, the Emperor held all the power, and the Senate and Assemblies were greatly reduced in their power and influence.
\nWhile the Senate still had some authority in foreign policy and some legal matters, it was the Emperor who held the ultimate power. He was the head of state and government, and had the authority to make laws, govern, and appoint officials to various government positions.
\nWith the establishment of the Roman Empire, the power that the Consuls held was greatly diminished and eventually eliminated. In their place, the emperor was the sole ruler, and he held all the power in the government.<\/p>\n

Augustus<\/h2>\n

The Roman Republic was replaced in 27 BC by a monarchy, ruled by Augustus. Under Augustus, the Senate and Assemblies were restored and allowed to continue function. However, Augustus initially kept control over all the powers of the government, and the Senate had to seek his approval regarding any decisions they made.
\nAs Augustus’ rule became more secure, he began to delegate more of his powers to the Senate, and allowed them to have more control over their own decisions. This period represented a major shift in the Roman government, as it saw a transfer of power away from the sole ruler and towards a more balanced and cooperative system.<\/p>\n

Tetrarchy<\/h2>\n

After the death of Augustus, Rome was divided into four parts, and a tetrarchy was established. This system of government consisted of four co-emperors ruling from separate quarters of the empire, each of which had their own distinct abilities. The two senior emperors had the ultimate power and could veto each other if necessary. Each emperor had their own set of advisors and governors to manage the affairs of the empire.
\nThis form of government was an attempt to bring stability to Rome after the death of its first emperor. However, it proved to be too complicated and eventually became too fractured to manage.<\/p>\n

Decline of the Roman Empire<\/h2>\n