What are some similarities and differences between Ancient Roman and American citizenship?

Answer 1

Here are the rights conferred by Roman citizenship. You can then make your comparison with the rights of American citizens.

The rights of Roman citizens were:

Public rights

Jus suffragiorum: The right to vote in the Roman assemblies

Jus honorum: The right to stand for public office

Jus commercii: The right to make legal contracts and to hold property as a Roman citizen

Jus connubii: The right to have a lawful marriage with a Roman citizen and to have the legal rights of the paterfamilias (head of the family)

Jus migrationis: The right to preserve full citizenship on relocation to a colony of Roman status. This did not apply on relocation to a colony of lesser legal status. Citizenship was reduced to Latin citizenship of one moved a Latin colony, which conferred less rights

Jjus militiae, was the right of serving in the army,

Citizens could appeal to the people against the actions of officers of state (magistrates) and the person.s who appealed could not be punished, until the people determined the matter. This right was secured with the assistance of the plebeian tribunes.

Private rights

· The right to sue in the courts.

· The right to have a legal trial and to defend oneself in court.

· Citizens could appeal to the people against the actions taken by the officers of state (magistrates) and the person who appealed could not be punished, until the people determined the matter. This was chiefly secured with the assistance of the plebeian tribunes

· None but the whole Roman people could pass sentence on the life of a Roman citizen. No magistrate could punish him by stripes or capitally. The single expression, "I am a Roman citizen," checked their severest decrees.one but the whole Roman people could pass sentence on the life of a Roman citizen.

· The right of liberty comprised not only liberty from the power of masters, but also from the dominion of tyrants, the severity of magistrates, the cruelty of creditors, and the insolence of more powerful citizens.

· No Roman citizen could be sentenced to crucifixion. Roman Citizens were not crucified (Roman Crucifixion), they were beheaded