How did the roman idea of check and balances government worked?

Answer 1

Having two men (the consuls) being in charge instead of one king was meant to provide checks between the two as they could disagree on policy matters. The term of just one year was also a check on their power. Generally, the power to veto was the main system of checks on power. Officers of state of the same rank could veto each other and officers of state of higher rank could veto officers of state of lower rank.

The concept of check and balances of powers and branches of the state originates from Greek historian and political theorist Polybius. He thought that the three branches of the Roman state were kept separate by being quite different form each other and this led to them checking each other's powers and balancing each other's weaknesses. He thought that the Roman executive was monarchic in character, the senate was aristocratic, and the assemblies of the people were democratic. Each had dangers. Monarchy could degenerate into tyranny, aristocracy fall into oligarchy and democracy into rule by the mob. These three dangers were prevented by Rome's constitution having the three elements together, checking and balancing each other. This was Polybius' interpretation and not necessarily the view of the Roman themselves.

French philosopher Montesquieu took up Polybius' ideas in the 18th century and re-elaborated them. This greatly influenced the making of the US Constitution.

Answer 2

The Roman system of checks and balances worked through the veto, dual consuls and short terms of office with a set number of years before a man could be elected to the supreme office for a second time. The veto was perhaps the most important element as men of equal rank could veto each other and men of higher office could veto those of lower office. The tribune of the plebs could veto anybody except a dictator.

Answer 3

Magistrates (officer of state) of equal rank could veto each other's actions. Magistrates of higher rank could veto the actions of magistrates of lower rank. The plebeian tribunes could veto the actions of any magistrate and could veto each other. They could also veto the resolutions of the senante.

Answer 4

Checks and balances are systems to make certain that all branches of government are equal in power. A very simplistic example is say that Congress, (Legislative Branch) passes a bill and the president (Executive Branch) signs it into law. However, the new law could be considered unconstitutional and the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) could throw it out. ancient Rome did not have the three branches of government that we have, they only had two, but the Tribunes could veto any proposal put forward by the Senate.

Answer 5

it is c