The Plebians - the Roman Citizens

The Roman citizens/families were divided into two classes: the noble Patricians and the common Plebians. In the early years of Rome only the Patricians could hold political offices and priesthood. These classes were just divided upon the present people, some of the Plebians were as ancient and/or richer than the Patrician superiors.

The Plebians refused the ways of the senate and a "struggle of the orders" came about. The Plebians wanted several things but overall they just wanted the same opportunity in life as the Patricians: be able to get elected/serve in office. The senate ruled that the Plebians families cannot stand for office and their men had to serve for their army. The Plebians denied these ways and held it against the senate, whenever the senate had a problem with Plebian concessions; the Plebians would threaten them with a military strike.

The Plebians succeeded on getting what they want. In 471 B.C.E the Plebians set up an assembly of their own headed by ten magistrates called "Tribunes". In 451 B.C.E the Plebians won an acceptance of the twelve tablets, a law code establishing a common standard justice for all citizens. By 445 B.C.E the two classes of family, Patrician and Plebian, were able to engage in marriage and the Plebians were able to be elected for office. The new laws were designed to prevent any individual from acquiring enough power to reestablish a monarchy.

Although Plebians were able to be elected for office, the laws for office members were changed. All magistrates were only allow to serve a one year term and could not have an immediate reelection. All chief executives were shown by two consuls; therefor, they were able to keep each other in check. The new laws also acquired that soldiers have limited power in the city, preventing them from seizing Rome. They were not permitted to pass the Pomerium, city's sacred boundary, as a unit. They were only allowed to pass as a unit and come into Rome if the senate gave them a "Triumph".

It can be said Rome became a democracy; because, a democracy is-Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives, and the people of Rome elected who they wanted to be in office. Either the Plebian families or Patrician families were able to run for office, there just were strict laws for the people who ran in office, so no individual can reestablish a monarchy.