Ogle.Session2.ResponsePaper
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Session 2 Response Paper: Option 2
Cody W. Ogle
HIS-202A: Western Civilization I
Colorado Christian University
Lilia Anand
September 5, 2023
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Session 2 Response Paper: Option 2
It is not hard to see that the founding fathers of the United States used the practical and
reliable system that Ancient Rome used so long ago. While the ideas and strategies are not
identical, the inspiration that was drawn from Rome’s philosophies, government structure, and
their religious afflictions is evident in the way our constitutional government is set up today. In
this paper we will discuss how those areas and similarities of Ancient Rome were used as the
prototype for the U.S. government we see today. The Roman Republic has since then fell and is
no longer what it used to be, and of course the United States is long past its founding fathers, yet
the systems implemented so long ago still thrive to this day.
One of the big similarities between Ancient Rome and U.S. constitutional government is
that both governments were based on the principle of separation of powers. This is set up to
make sure that different branches of government are responsible for different functions. In
Ancient Rome, the legislative branch was the Senate. “This self-perpetuating body, whose
members served for life, brought together the state’s wealth, influence, and political and military
experience.” (Bulliet, R. W., et al., p. 144). In our reading material for this class,
The Earth and
its People
(2019), the Senate is described as “The real center of power.” The executive branch
was the consuls, and the judicial branch was the praetors. According to Britannica.com, a praetor
is “a judicial officer who had broad authority in cases of equity, was responsible for the
production of the public games, and, in the absence of consuls, exercised extensive authority in
the government. Like Ancient Rome, the U.S. also has separation of powers. The legislative
branch is Congress, the executive branch is the president, and the judicial branch is the Supreme
Court.
Along with the separation of power, a system of checks and balances was also put in
place in both governments. Each branch of the U.S. government has the power to check the
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power of the other branches, which was also the case of the Ancient Roman government. In
Rome, the Senate had the power to veto the actions of the consuls, and the consuls had the power
to veto the actions of the Senate and the other consuls. (Wasson, 2015). There was also a creation
of officials that looked out for the lower class that were known as the tribunes. These officials
were “drawn from the nonelite classes and who could veto, or block, actions of the Assembly or
officials that threatened the interests of the lower orders.” (Bulliet, R. W., et al., p. 144). Just as
the Romans put in place checks and balances, the United States also has this same system in
place. Congress has the ability to impeach the President, and the president can veto the actions of
Congress.
Another major similarity between the Ancient Roman republic and the United States
government is the religious tolerance that has been integrated into their societies. There was no
official state religion in Ancient Rome, and the people there were free to practice any type of
religion they chose. Many of the people would practice more than religion at the same time as
there were “a number of cults gained popularity by claiming to provide secret information about
the nature of life and death and promising a blessed afterlife to their adherents.” (Bulliet, R. W.,
et al., p. 155). This tolerance of religion was mostly due to the fact that Rome was a multi-
cultural society and people from all over the Mediterranean came to Rome and brought their
religions with them. “They spread throughout the Greco-Roman lands in response to a growing
spiritual and intellectual hunger not satisfied by traditional pagan practices.” (Bulliet, R. W., et
al., p. 155). The United States government is similar in this same regard as there is also not an
official state religion, and people are free to practice any religion they choose. This right is given
to the people by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which is defined by Whitehouse.gov
as the following: “The First Amendment provides that Congress makes no law respecting an
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establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press,
assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
(Whitehouse.gov, 2023).
In conclusion, it is very easy to see how the founding fathers of United States of America
used the same basic principles and systems when creating our constitution. By layering our
government in a way that gives no one level too much power, we embodied the same ideals
intuition that the people of Ancient Rome also feared. All the while, we maintained the ability to
keep religious freedoms a top priority and separate from the state, which was also a major
importance of the Roman Republic. It seems though, Christians today are falling victim to the
government, the same as early Christians in the Roman empire. Will our society fall as the once
powerful Roman Republic fell? Only time will tell. Romans 1:18-20 in the Bible (2013) says,
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of
people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain
to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
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References
Bulliet, R. W., Hirsch, S. W., Johnson, L. L., Crossley, P. K., & Northrup, D. (2018). The Earth
and its peoples: A global history. Cengage.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2023). History and Society. Retrieved from:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/praetor
The White House. (2023).
The Constitution.
Retrieved from:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-
thewhitehouse/ourgovernment/theconstitution/#:~:text=The%20First%20Amendment
%20provides%20that,the%20right%20to%20bear%20arms
Wasson, D. L., (2015).
Roman Government.
World History Publishing. Retrieved from:
https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Government/
Zondervan. (2013). Holy Bible:
New International Version.
Original Works Published 1973.