The Roman Constitution was based on 12 written laws and ancient traditions.
Responsibilities were divided between various assemblies; membership was limited by class, order, family, and income.
In times of military emergencies, a single dictator was chosen for a term of six months to have control of the Roman state.
Rome had a written constitution and a system of checks and balances through the various assemblies.
The Roman Senate developed during the Republic; senators were the aristocracy and politically influential in the state.
Full citizens of Rome were free, property-owning men; these citizens and their families were divided into two classes: patricians, who were wealthy and held most political offices, and plebeians, who were the average citizens.
