How was the Rome's government in the republic unlike the government under kings?

Answer 1

The kings, though elected, were sole rulers and ruled for life. The Republic, instead, was headed by two annually elected consuls. The Republic was established in a rebellion which deposed the last king, Tarquinius Superbus, who was a tyrant. The Romans decided to do away with the monarchy to prevent the return of tyranny. Having two men in charge meant that they could counterbalance each other. The short term of office ensured that no none could concentrate power in their hands.

Answer 2

To sart with the Republic repleced the king with two annually elected consuls as heads of the republic and the army. For the rest it retained the institutions of the monarchy. The senate, which had been an unelected advisory body for the king, became the advisory body of the consuls and remained an unelected body. The Republic also retained the assemblies which had been created by the 5th King of Rome, Servius Tullius: the Assembly of the Soldiers and the Assembly of the Tribes (districts).

As it developed, the Republic created new officers of state in addition to the consuls. They took on various aspects of administration: the praetors (created in 366 BC) and the censors (created in 442 BC) became the senior officers along the consuls. The curule aediles (created in 367 BC) and the quaestors (created before 420 BC) became the junior officers. These officials were elected annually, expect for the censors whose term of office was originally five years and then was reduced to 18 months. The Republic did not have a centralised executive and the officers acted independently within the remit of their office.

During the first rebellion by the poor plebeians (commoners) against the patrician-controlled state in 494 BC, the plebeians created the leaders of their movement, the plebeian tribunes, and their own assembly, the Plebeian Council. The plebeian aediles were also created to assist the plebeian tribunes. The plebeian tribunes were recognised as the representatives of the plebeians, but not as officers of state and were not fully integrated into the Roman state. The resolutions of the Plebeian Council were not recognised as laws binding on all Roman citizens because it did not include the patricians (the aristocracy).

Over time the resolutions of the Plebeian Council became recognised as binding on all Roman citizens and this assembly became the legislative body. Bills were presented to the vote of the Plebeian Council by the plebeian tribunes. Previously the consuls presented bills to the vote of the Assembly of the Soldiers.

The Assembly of the Soldiers became the body which elected the senior officers of state. It also voted on war and peace and acted as a court of appeal for capital punishment cases. The assembly of the Tribes became the body which elected the junior officers of state. It also acted as an court of appeal for other cases. In 82 BC appeals were removed from these two assemblies and transferred to a special jury court called quaestiones perpetuae.

Answer 3

Understand your terms. Rome was an empire under the republic. It had expanded and ruled territories under Roman law from Rome. It was an empire under the republican form of government. In the republican form of government citizens were allowed to vote and elect officials. What is commonly referred to as the "Roman Empire" is properly called the principate. The principate was governed by a one man rule and even though the offices of the officials remained the same, the Caesar who was in power often appointed men to office as the power was in his hands and no longer in the hands of the people.