How Democratic Was Roman Republic Sources

We are going to review some of the key ideas in the three documents before turning in our Big Assignment Essays

Multiple Choice

According to Polybius the Roman Republic has elements of what type of government

• Despotism

• Aristocracy

• Democracy

• All of the Above

Multiple Choice

In the Roman Republic, only the ________ could legislate according to Fergus Millar.

• Assemblies

• Senate

• Consuls

• the people in a direct democracy

Multiple Choice

What are Millar’s arguments against those who claim that the Roman Republic was a “top down” system?

• Millar believes the Roman Republic was entirely controlled by the Senate.
• The people play an important role in voting for representatives who then are the ones who make laws.

• Millar claims that plebeians had no role in political decisions.
• Millar argues that the Roman Republic was a dictatorship in disguise.

Multiple Choice

According to Millar, what powers did the Roman people have? How did that make Rome more democratic?

• The Roman people had no power in government decisions.
• Only the wealthy could influence legislation in Rome.
• The Roman people could only vote on local matters.
• The Roman people had the power to elect officials, participate in assemblies, and influence legislation, which made Rome more democratic.

Multiple Choice

True/False. According to Alan Ward, because there was voting in the Roman Republic that automatically makes Rome very democratic

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is one barrier from voting that Ward brings up?

• Only Patricians could cast votes

• All voting must be done in Rome

• Only a very small % of people were eligible to vote

• Voter registration deadlines

Multiple Choice

According to a recent study by historian Ramsay MacMullen what percentage of Romans typically voted in elections?

• ALL eligible citizens cast votes

• Over 75%

• Around 55%

• Around 2%

Multiple Choice

What was another barrier to calling Rome democratic during the Republic?

• The people/ Assemblies often had no choice in what they were voting for

• Casting a vote required a person to climb over three castle walls, swim through a moat and jump through a flaming hula hoop

• Romans needed to pass a literacy test in order to vote

• In times of war all voting was postponed... and Rome was always at war

Multiple Choice

True/False. After reading Alan Ward it is impossible to argue that Rome was democratic.

• True

• False