2.1 The Form of the Constitution Flashcards
What does SPQR stand for?
Senatus Populusque Romanus (Senate and the people of Rome)
What are the three groups in the Roman state?
- Senate
- People
- Magistrates
What was the role of the Senate in the Roman Republic?
The Senate advised magistrates and controlled state expenditure
How many members were in the Senate by the late Republic?
600 members
What is a senatus consultum (SC)?
An opinion or piece of advice from the Senate, not a law
What was the cursus honorum?
A sequence of political offices held by aspiring politicians
What is the minimum age to be elected as a quaestor?
Thirty years old
What were the responsibilities of an aedile?
- Public buildings
- Streets and markets
- Food supply to Rome
- Certain games
What was the primary function of a praetor?
Judicial, presiding over the standing law courts
What powers did consuls possess?
- Preside over senatorial debate
- Command armies in times of crisis
Who could be elected as tribunes?
Only plebeians
What power did tribunes have to protect citizens?
Their person was sacrosanct and they could veto proposed laws
What are the three assemblies of the people in the Roman Republic?
- Comitia centuriata
- Comitia populi tributa
- Comitia plebis tributa
How was the comitia centuriata organized?
Into 193 centuries of voters, subdivided into seven classes by wealth
How many equestrian centuries were there in the comitia centuriata?
Eighteen equestrian centuries
What was the voting process in the comitia centuriata?
Each century voted, and the majority vote of the century was brought forward
What distinguished the comitia plebis tributa from the comitia populi tributa?
Comitia plebis tributa excluded patricians and was presided over by a tribune
How many tribes were there in total for voting purposes?
Thirty-five tribes (four urban and thirty-one rural)
What was considered legal largesse in the context of Roman assemblies?
Gifts of dinners and money to fellow tribesmen
Was it legal to distribute gifts to members of another tribe?
No, that was considered bribery
What should have existed among the Senate, magistrates, and assemblies?
A balance of power
True or False: A magistrate could propose laws directly.
False, they typically used senatus consultum and assemblies for that
Fill in the blank: The position of _______ was responsible for defending the people against magistrates.
Tribune
What was the major change Sulla made regarding tribunes?
Curbed their authority to propose legislation and hold further political office
What was the significance of the Gracchi and Marius in Roman history?
They established precedents highlighting the need for change
What was the prestige associated with holding office in Roman society?
Individuals coveted top jobs for military prestige and wealth from defeated foes
What are amicitiae and factiones in the context of Roman politics?
Amicitiae are alliances among senatorial friends and families, while factiones are factions that may be temporary and changing
How did individuals seek to hold onto power longer than allowed by the system?
Through nepotism or forming alliances
What are the two main political groups in Roman society?
- Optimates
- Populares
What is the literal meaning of ‘optimates’?
‘Best people’
According to Cicero, what characterized populares?
Those who sought to please the crowd (populus) and used the people’s power for their advantage
True or False: Cicero presented a fair and unbiased view of the optimates and populares in his speech.
False
What did Sulla establish in the legal system of Rome?
Seven standing courts (quaestiones perpetuae) for specific crimes
What was the primary role of patrons in Roman society?
To represent the interests of their clients, who were often reasonably well-off
What was the status of the majority of the population in Rome?
80-90% were poor, often reliant on hand-outs from the rich and the state
What was ager publicus?
Public land that Roman citizens could use but not own
What was Tiberius Gracchus’ land reform proposal in 133 BC?
To redistribute ager publicus and reaffirm a 500 iugera limit on land possession
What did Gaius Gracchus propose to extend citizenship to?
The Latin people and grant Latin status to the rest of Italy
What significant actions did Gaius Gracchus take during his tribunate?
- Re-affirming trial rights for the death penalty
- Establishing a corn dole
- Changing jury composition for provincial extortion cases
- Establishing overseas colonies
What was the senatus consultum ultimum (SCU)?
A decree empowering magistrates to take up arms to defend the state
Who was Marius and what was significant about his consulship?
An accomplished soldier who became consul in 107 BC and challenged the Senate’s role in military command
What change did Marius implement regarding military recruitment?
He recruited soldiers from the lowest property classification, previously exempt from military service
What was the outcome of the alliance between Marius and Saturninus?
Saturninus proposed a land bill benefiting Marius’ veterans, leading to violence and political chaos
Fill in the blank: The poor citizens of Rome were generally referred to as the _______.
plebs urbana
What were latifundia in Roman agriculture?
Large estates farmed by slaves, often acquired from conquered lands
