Rome vs America 1

Colorado Technical University

Rome vs America

Essay 2

Gordon Neal

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

HIST 1605

Global History Since 1500

By

Sari-Marie Barnes

Colorado Springs, Colorado

May 2012
 Rome vs America 2

Abstract

Despite the U.S. constitution being based off of the ancient Roman government, it has many

differences as does similarities. One can see the best in both systems of government here.
 Rome vs America 3

Rome vs America

Rome: a place most remembered for its historical power, higher government control, as

well as its fierce forces. In fact, it was one, if not the greatest power in its time. Today, America

uses parts of the Romans system in our own way of government. Its popular system keeps a main

leader and it’s supporting branches of congress beneath it to represent the people. Just like

Rome, America has set up an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch of

government.

Becoming A Republic

Rome wasn’t always a republic. It was under the grip of the Etruscan Empire for quite

some time before overthrowing them in 509 BCE (Ancient Civilizations, 2012). The Roman

Republic was ran by the wealthy high class of the time, or also known as aristocracy (Ancient

Civilization, 2012). They made up the majority of patricians (Ancient Civilization, 2012). Just

like Rome, Americans were under the power of the English for many years. Finally, America

gained its independence July 4th, 1776. Again, similar to the Romans, America’s wealthier

classes help run the government.

The Executive Branch

Back in the time of the Roman Empire, the executive branches were made up of two

consuls, two to eight praetors, two aediles, two to forty quaestors, two to ten tribunes, two

censors, and occasionally, one dictator (utexas.edu, 2012). Consuls, which were the chief civil

and military magistrates, were the closest equivalent to the United States congress. Consuls were

normally elected by an assembly and could only rule for one year (Ancient Roman Government,

2012). Praetors focused on military control and attending to civil law in Rome at the time

(utexas.edu, 2012). These would be like the judges in the courts of America. Quaestors were to
 Rome vs America 4

be in charge of the treasury of Rome and are similar to the U.S. Department of the Treasury

(utexas.edu, 2012). Tribunes had authority to impose laws and also had the power to veto these

laws in place (Miriammilani, 2012). They were to place laws to protect the plebeians

(utexas.edu, 2012). Tribunes were the equivalent of United States senate.

Legislative Branch

America’s legislative branch is divided into two sections or houses of congress (Arnheim,

2012). There are the House of Representatives and the senate. How many people elected to the

House of Representatives depends on the overall population of a state (Arnheim, 2012). Rome’s

legislative branch was made into three different citizen assemblies (utexas.edu, 2012). There was

the curiate assembly, the centuriate assembly and the tribal assembly (utexas.edu, 2012). The

curiate assembly was a legislative branch that later became obsolete (utexas.edu, 2012).

However, the two other assemblies still maintained power in the Roman Republic. The most

important of the lasting two for the Roman Republic in the legislative branch was the centuriate

assembly (utexas.edu, 2012). This assembly was based on their members wealth and age as well

as their past military status (utexas.edu, 2012). Their responsibilities included electing censors

and magistrates, was the proper official body for declaring war, passing some laws, and serving

highest in court of appeal in cases which involved capital punishment (utexas.edu, 2012). The

tribal assembly was responsible for electing tribunes and deliberation of the plebeians

(utexas.edu, 2012). This assembly would also become the chief lawmaking section (utexas.edu,

2012). Today, America’s houses of congress work in many ways that these assemblies did,

especially the centuriate assembly (Ancient Roman Government, 2012).

 Rome vs America 5

Judicial Branch

The Roman government had eight praetors, which were judges (Ancient Roman

Government, 2012). These were chosen by the centuriate assembly (Ancient Roman

Government, 2012). These judges were chosen and could serve for one year (Ancient Roman

Government, 2012). America set up their judicial branch based on these praetors, which is the

Supreme Court. Rome never had a distinct judicial branch because it mixed in with their

legislative branch, though it did have set laws which citizen must abide by. These laws were

known as the Twelve Tables, similar to the U.S’s Bill of Rights (Ancient Roman Government,

2012).

The Twelve Tables and The Bill of Rights

The Roman government had its own set of laws known as The Twelve Tables. This was

their early attempt to compose a code of law (Adams, 2009). The Twelve Tables were set up so

that there would be legal and social protection of both the patricians (privileged upper class) and

the plebeians (common people) (Adams, 2009). The very first table of the Twelve Tables

declares that every convicted man must have a trial (Adams, 2009). This is similar to

Amendment VI, stating that each person shall have right to a speedy and public trial and to have

witnesses for and against them (Arnheim, 2012). However, it appears that the rest of the

Amendments and and Tables are vastly different from each other. For example, Table V covers

the rights of fathers over their families and how it is acceptable to kill a deformed child, that

women may not be out in public without a male guardian, and that the inheritance of a freedman

or citizen goes to his patron if he has no natural successors and has died intestate (Adams,

2009). Another example is that XI, where it states that lower and upper class cannot be wed

(Adams, 2009). It also states in the U.S. Bill of Rights in Amendment VIII that there shall be no
 Rome vs America 6

excessive fines or nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted upon someone and that the

punishment shall be just (Arnheim, 2012). This seems to be the opposite case in the Twelve

Tables where it describes the eight types of punishment that are deemed acceptable, which would

include: fines, fetters, flogging, retaliation in kind, civil disgrace and humiliation, banishment,

slavery, and death (Adams, 2009). These punishments would be deemed unconstitutional if

practiced today. Finally, there is the difference that the U.S. Bill of Rights only has ten

Amendments whereas there are twelve of the Tables.

Conclusion

The Roman Empire and America have their set differences and similarities in government

systems. It is obvious that the U.S. constitution and it’s government were made up similar to that

of the Roman Empire’s way of government with its executive branch, legislative branch and

judicial branch. What one can really see as differences is how many people made up the Roman

senate (composed of three hundred people) compared to the simpler version in America today

made up of only one hundred people, and the differences in laws that were relevant at the time.
 Rome vs America 7

References

Adams, J. P. (2009, June 10). The Twelve Tables. In csun.edu. Retrieved May 12, 2012, from

http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html

Ancient Rome. (2012). In Ancient Civilizations. Retrieved May 12, 2012, from

http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp

Arnheim, M. (2012). U.S. Constitution For Dummies. In Dummies.com. Retrieved May 12,

2012, from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/us-constitution-for-dummies-cheat-

sheet.html

Rome vs. The United States: How Much Has Changed?. (2012). In Ancient Roman Government.

Retrieved May 12, 2012, from http://romangov.weebly.com/rome-vs-us.html

The Roman Republican Constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2012, from

http://www.utexas.edu/depts/classics/documents/RepGov.html