What was the reality of the Roman Senate in the early Roman Republic?

Answer 1

The senate during the republic was the advisory body for the consuls. It was not an elected body. In the Early Republic it was dominated by the patricians who made membership of this body exclusive to themselves. With the Conflict of the orders between patricians and plebeians, the rich plebeians gained access to the seats of the senate.

Answer 2

During the 244 years of the monarchy (753-27 BC) the senate was an unelected advisory of the king. The king had all the power and made his own decisions, but listened to the advice of the senate.

During the 482 (590-27 BC) years of the Roman Republic, the senate remained an unelected advisory body, but for the consuls, the two unelected heads of the Republic. It was not a legislative body. Originally their Assembly of the Soldiers voted on bills and late the Plebeian Council became the legislative body. However, the senate could issue decrees and senatum consulta, pronouncements on the technical validity of bills.

Over time the senate became the most powerful body of the Roman Republic. It supervised the treasury. With increased military activity it started to coordinate the deployment of several legions at the same time, and the establishment of Roman colonies (settlements) in the areas of Italy Rome expanded into. With further imperial expansion it took charge of the administration of the provinces (conquered territories). It also debated and voted on matters of policy and, although this only had an advisory function, the consuls usually implemented its resolutions.

The senate was composed of patricians (aristocrats) and former officers of state. It defended the interests of the aristocracy. Its members could also use their wealth to further these interests through corruption and through the patron-client relationships. Conflict developed between the senate and the plebeian tribunes, the representatives of the poor plebeians (commoners). The Gracchi brothers tried to implement a land reform to redistribute land to the poor. Tiberius Gracchus was assassinated by thugs hired by senators who attacked him and his supporters. Later, the senate bribed another plebeian tribune to oppose the policies of Gaius Gracchus, created Propaganda against him, made false allegations against him, and raised a mob to attack him and his supporters. Finding himself cornered, Gaius committed suicide.

With the establishment of rule by emperors as absolute rulers (27 BC-476 AD) the senate was emasculated and turned into an instrument for the emperor's power. However, in the early days of the period of rule by emperors, it was still capable of being a source of opposition to the policies of the emperor.

Answer 3

During the period of the Roman monarchy (753-509 BC) the (unelected) senate was the advisory body of the kings. During the period of the Roman Republic (509-27 BC), it developed into the most powerful political body which represented the interests of he aristocracy. During the period of rule by emperors (27 BC-476 AD) its power was eclipsed by that of the emperors, who were absolute rulers.

Answer 4

The Roman senate was important during the period of the Roman Monarchy (753-509 B.C.) when it was the advisory body of the kings and during the period of the Roman Republic (509-27 B.C.). During the period of rule by emperors (27 B.C.-476 A.D.) the senate lost much of its power. It was turned into an instrument for the emperor's rule.

The Roman senate was nothing like our present day senates. Only the name is identical. It was not an elected body and it was not a legislative body either. The Roman senate was originally a body of aristocrats (patricians) who were appointed by the king and advised the kings during the period of the Roman Monarchy. During the period of the Roman Republic the senate was still an advisory body, but for the consuls, the two annually elected heads of the Republic. Over time, it also came to include former executive officers of state who automatically received a seat in the senate for live. This gave access to the senate to the wealthy plebeians, who had gained the right to be elected for the offices of state. The senators were enrolled by an official called the censor on the basis of wealth and suitability of character.

During the Roman Republic, the senate was a body where matters of policy were discussed and policy recommendations for the consuls were made. The consuls usually followed its advice. This made the senate the most powerful political body of the Republic. Moreover, the Roman executive did not have a centralised form of government, like an administration or a cabinet. There were five types of officers of state who acted independently within the remit of their offices. In addition to this, their term of office was only one year, apart from the censor, whose term was 18 months. Therefore, the senate provided both policy consistency and policy continuity and was the centrepiece of policy formulation. The senate also supervised the treasurers (the quaestors) and advised the Assembly of the Soldiers before it voted on war or peace. It elected eight of the 24 military tribunes (16 were elected by the Assembly of the Soldiers). These were young wealthy men who served for 10 years seconded to the staff of the military commander as a first step for their career in public office. The senate issued a decree which established the mandate of the dictator. This was an extraordinary officer of state who was appointed by the consuls for a term of six months at times of emergency.

Rome's wars of expansion into Italy and beyond increased the power of the senate. It became the body which enabled the co-ordination of the deployment of several armies at the same time and the establishment of Roman colonies (settlements) in the conquered territories. It was responsible for tax collection in the Roman provinces (conquered territories). The governors of the provinces were chosen by the senators from among themselves by lot. The drawback of the latter was that it allowed the provincial governors to treat their provinces as their personal fiefs and personal power bases.

In addition to the above, despite not being a legislative body (it nether drafted bills nor voted on legislation) the senate also issued the senatum consulta (plural), which were texts promulgated on draft bills presented to the senate by the consuls. It was considered normal practice to seek a consultum (singular) prior to submitting a bill to the vote of the popular assemblies. The consulta expressed the opinion of the senate on the matters referred and they had only an advisory capacity. In practice the consuls usually followed the consulta to the letter. A hostile consultum would lead to a modification of the bill or its abandonment. However, if it conflicted with a passed law, the latter overrode the consultum. Originally the senate could veto approved laws on the grounds of technicalities with the senatum acutoritas. Later a law determined that the senatus acutoritas could only be issued before the vote. In n 287 BC a laws abolished the senatus acutoritas.

During the period of rule by emperors, the senate became little more than a rubber stamp for the emperor.

Answer 5

exercise complete control over the common people or plebeians

Answer 6

During the reigns of the first Emperors, legislative, judicial, and electoral powers were all transferred from the "Roman assemblies" to the Senate.

Answer 7

approval or veto