What were the branches of government in ancient Rome and what did they do?

Answer 1

There were only two "branches" of government in ancient Rome. They were the Senate and the Roman people. SPQR. The senate proposed laws; the people's assemblies ratified/passed them. The elected officials were members of the senate (either before or because of their election) but they were elected by the assemblies. The officials were the tribunes of the plebs, which originally was an office formed to look after the interests of the plebeians, but it soon deteriorated into a political tool for ambitious politicians. There was the office of aedile, which controlled the city's infrastructure, weights and measures and trade. Next was a quaester who was a treasury man. He could be considered a state accountant. Then came the office of praetor which was a judicial position with authority to lead and raise armies if necessary. The highest office was that of the consuls who were responsible for the smooth running of the government during their year in office. They had the years named after them, they could lad an army, they proposed resolutions and could call a vote on issues.