How the Roman Republic was governed: consuls, Senate and assemblies

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Checks on power in the Republic

   Check	How it worked
   Two consuls	neither consul ruled alone, and each could veto the other
   One-year terms	consuls served for a single year
   Tribunes of the plebs	ten tribunes from 457 BCE; they could veto the actions of the consuls and the Senate
   Patricians and plebeians	at first only patricians, the old leading families, could hold office; over time every office opened to plebeians, the common people

2. 1.

   How many tribunes of the plebs were there from 457 BCE, Ren asks?

   • 300
   • Two
   • One
   • Ten
3. 2.

   Who could veto the actions of the consuls and the Senate, Zee asks?

   • A king
   • No one
   • The patricians alone
   • The tribunes of the plebs
4. 3.

   Why have two consuls instead of one, Ari asks?

   • So neither could rule alone
   • So they could rule for life
   • Because Rome had two cities
   • So one could be king
5. 4.

   How did tribunes check the power of consuls and the Senate, Esme asks?

   • They could veto their actions
   • They led the army
   • They agreed to each action
   • They chose the consuls for life
6. 5.

   Who were the patricians, Jun asks?

   • Visitors from Greece
   • The common people
   • The ten tribunes
   • Rome's old leading families
7. 6.

   Who were the plebeians, Kira asks?

   • The Senate
   • The two consuls
   • The common people
   • The old leading families
8. 7.

   What changed over time for plebeians, Luz asks?

   • Every office opened to them
   • They could never vote
   • They lost their offices
   • They became patricians
9. 8.

   Which claim does the chart support best, Milo asks?

   • One consul ruled Rome alone
   • The tribunes ruled as kings
   • Rome had no checks on power
   • Rome spread power so no one ruled alone
10. 9.

    Noah's friend says the Republic gave plebeians every office from the start. What is the best reply?

    • Agree: plebeians were the patricians
    • Disagree: plebeians held no office
    • Agree: it was equal for them from the start
    • Disagree: they gained offices over time
11. 10.

    Pia's friend says a veto means saying yes. What is the best reply?

    • Disagree: veto means a king
    • Disagree: a veto says no
    • Agree: veto means yes
    • Agree: veto means vote