Republic: A Representative Governmental System

The first republic government formed was the Roman Republic, upon the Romans overthrowing the monarchy in 509 BC. The Roman Republic lasted until 27 BC when Octavian was given the title "Augustus" by the Senate, the beginning of the Roman Empire and the rule of the Caesars. The Roman Republic lasted about 482 years, which is short in length by political system standards (monarchies have endured longer) but this gives hope to current republics who have many more years to pass before reaching their 482 year.

The word republic is derived from the Latin phrase res publica translates to "a public affair". Webster's Dictionary defines the term republic as "a state without a hereditary head, in which supremacy of the people or its elected representatives is formally acknowledged; commonwealth." Modern examples of a working republic would be the United States of America and France. Both of these countries developed republics in the late 18th century. They are similar, yet distinctive; as the Roman Republic is different and was the model that heavily influenced those who created the American and French republics.

In ancient Rome, having a republic was a "public affair" up to a point. It was the aristocracy (Patricians) who primarily were the representatives who decided all governmental policies. These aristocrats were solely Roman born male citizens. Women, foreigners, and slaves were not allowed participation in the republic's governmental system which included not being allowed to vote. These Patricians were from the oldest and most respected Roman families, including the most wealthy. Very rarely was a Plebeian (a person of distinction and Roman male citizen not from a famous Roman ancestral line) allowed to join the Patricians in the inner workings of the Roman Republic. Most of Plebeians allowed to participate were upper middle class with wealth of their own. No one without money and property were allowed to participate in the Roman Republic.

Unlike modern republics, the Roman Republic's constitution was unwritten, a set of guidelines and principles passed down by precedence. The Roman constitution today would be regarded as not formal or official. This constitution due to being a thing of precedence was constantly evolving, changing, and being altered. The top of the Roman Republic was the Senate, comprised of Senators who made the final decisions for the government. Separately acting as the legislative branch were the Legislative Assemblies of the Roman Republic that comprised of Roman citizens who would bring important issues to the Senate. These assemblies were divided into two group types, committees and councils. The executive and judicial branch combined comprised of the Executive Magistrates of the Roman Republic. Only these magistrates had veto power and were chosen by the citizens of Rome. This branch had its own ranks, roles, and powers split up into different offices with individual titles. In time of war, the magistrates would chose a Dictator (usually a renowned General) to rule Rome until the war was over. When the war ended, the Dictator was expected to step down, and the executive and legislative branches resumed their governmental roles in the republic. The Romans felt this method best because of the need of swift decision making during war. The Senate and The Executive Magistrates jointly oversaw the military.

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America, knowing the Roman Republic model, altered it tremendously when they created the written, official and formal constitution of the United States. This document cannot be altered without an Amendment which must be written formally, voted upon, and ratified by the states. The constitution of the United States has written in it safeguards protecting American citizens from having a dictator. These safeguards include the Electoral College. Ancient Rome found out how difficult it was to get rid of a Dictator who decided to stay in office, by having to eliminate him. Alas, for Rome's republic, this historical event precipitated Octavian's victory and the republic of Rome became a footnote in history as it turned into the Roman Empire. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America included in the original constitution all they could as precisely and concisely as possible to prevent a dictatorship; protect each citizen's rights, and civil liberties simultaneously protecting the republic from destructive influences. Why there is the checks and balances within the three branch (Legislative, Executive and Judicial) governmental republic system in the United States of America.

The United States Constitution and republic form of government influenced the French who had overthrown their monarchy in 1789. The French noticed how well a republic worked in America, and adopted this form of government as their own. One of the differences between the republic in the USA and that of France is that France is on its Fifth Republic. France has completely overhauled its republic constitutionally thereby creating a new republic form of government five times. Yes, the United States has amended its constitution, but has not had another constitutional convention for the sole purpose of completely changing the republic and operational procedures. France's current republic is a semi-presidential form, having a President and Prime Minister plus is parliamentary in nature.

One of the shortest lived republics was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This republic was a representative totalitarian form of government very similar to ancient Rome, but was ruled solely by a single political party known as the Communist Party. This republic dedicated itself to the implementation of the economic system socialism in order to economically progress into a communist state where the republic (government) would voluntarily wither away. The USSR's republic existed from 1922 through 1991, only 69 years. The countries comprising this republic created their own independent sovereign forms of political systems. There was no withering away of the USSR republic into a communist state where communism became the governing economic system.

The republic form of government bestows citizens a voice in the government without being forced to vote on each and every issue, thereby preventing the slowing down of the decision making process. A republic allows the citizens to choose representatives who act on their behalf. The lack of hereditary head like in a monarch enables the ordinary citizen the ability to become a President, Vice President, Senator, or another elected official within the government. A republic may not be a perfect form of government, but it is expedient where needed, and pro the needs of the ordinary citizen more than other political systems. Francis Bellamy, in favor of a republic political system, upon composing the Pledge of Allegiance for the United States of America in 1892, originally wrote, "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

Constitution of the United States of America: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Pledge of Allegiance (all versions for USA): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
Webster's Dictionary, edited by John Gage Allee Ph.D, Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc., 1977
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-presidential_system
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union