Mar 14 Daily

            The government system of the ancient Roman Republic stands a model for many democratic systems existing in the world today.  In ancient Rome, consuls, the two men in charge, decided many things.  These include control of the army, taxes, war, and laws.  In order for something to be “passed” through the system, the consuls must have agreed on the decision.  If one disagreed, they could veto the proposition.  “Veto” is Latin for “I forbid it,” and is used to stop ideas from passing through a checked and balanced government system.  This concept of vetoing propositions of law (referred to as “bills”) is still present in our American government system.  If Congress writes a bill, it must be passed to the President for approval.  The President can either approve it or veto it.  As Roman Empire began to grow, leaders were appointed to control the new province and its army.  In the United States, there are states very far away from our capital, Washington, D.C.  There are governors that control states, just as there were leaders of the many different Roman provinces.  There was a senate and assembly in the ancient Roman Republic.  In the United States, we have a bicameral federal legislature, meaning that it consists of two chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate.  In Rome, these groups of people voted on issues, if the consuls requested this of them.  Our Congress today not only votes but also creates law, but the concept of the American Congress and the assemblies of the ancient Roman Republic remain the same.