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?

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

   The cell marked ? is blank. Tala's chart has a blank: how long did consuls serve?

   • Ten years
   • A single year
   • Until they chose to stop
   • For life

4. 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

5. 3.

   Why have two consuls instead of one, Ari asks?

   • So they could rule for life
   • Because Rome had two cities
   • So neither could rule alone
   • So one could be king
6. 4.

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

   • They led the army
   • They agreed to each action
   • They chose the consuls for life
   • They could veto their actions
7. 5.

   Who were the patricians, Jun asks?

   • Rome's old leading families
   • The common people
   • Visitors from Greece
   • The ten tribunes
8. 6.

   Who were the plebeians, Kira asks?

   • The Senate
   • The common people
   • The two consuls
   • The old leading families
9. 7.

   What changed over time for plebeians, Luz asks?

   • They became patricians
   • They lost their offices
   • They could never vote
   • Every office opened to them
10. 8.

    Which claim does the chart support best, Milo asks?

    • The tribunes ruled as kings
    • Rome had no checks on power
    • One consul ruled Rome alone
    • Rome spread power so no one ruled alone
11. 9.

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

    • Disagree: they gained offices over time
    • Agree: plebeians were the patricians
    • Disagree: plebeians held no office
    • Agree: it was equal for them from the start
12. 10.

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

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