Examine the government of the Roman Republic.
Who was in charge of decision making?
In the Roman Republic, decision-making was primarily in the hands of elected magistrates. These magistrates were appointed through a system of popular elections and were chosen from among the aristocratic class. The highest position in the Roman Republic was the consul, of which there were typically two, who served as the chief executives and held significant power. They were elected for a one-year term and had the authority to veto each other's decisions.
There were also other important magistrates, such as praetors, who were responsible for judicial matters, and quaestors, who handled financial and administrative duties. The Roman Senate, composed of around 300 Senators, played a crucial role in decision-making as well. It was an advisory body rather than a legislative one, but its members had significant influence due to their wealth and social status.
Moreover, the Roman Republic had a system of assemblies where important decisions were made. The most significant was the Centuriate Assembly, which consisted of all Roman citizens. In theory, it had the power to elect magistrates, make laws, and decide on war and peace. However, in practice, decision-making power was often limited to the higher social classes due to the structure of the assemblies.
In summary, the decision-making process in the Roman Republic was a complex system that involved elected magistrates, the Senate, and various assemblies. The power was shared among these different institutions, but the aristocratic class held the majority of decision-making authority.