Whats the difference between roman republic compared current democracy?

Question

Whats the difference between roman republic compared current democracy?

Answer 1

by current democracy i am assuming you mean our republic in America, the roman republic was like our except i do not believe it had parties, and i know few could vote.

Answer 2

We don't have a Ceasar as godlike dictator.

Answer 3

The Roman republic had a lot of levels to it.  The Senate was the main political body and it was open to everyone over a certain level of wealth.  They weren't voted for, they got admitted as soon as they could prove they had the requisite assets.  So if that system applied in modern America the government would be full of business moguls, hedge fund managers  and Hollywood actors, but not Oprah because the Roman Senate was open only to men.  I think they had to be past a certain age as well.

Instead of a President, the Romans voted for two leaders called consuls.  They jointly shared the position of highest authority so they had to agree on decisions before they could be enacted.  The consuls were elected only by the Senate, I believe, so it would be like Congress getting together themselves and deciding the President, except there would be two.

Apart from the Senate there were a number of other public officials who were elected by popular vote, most notably the Tribunes.  They had an important but lesser role in the organisation of government.  (Originally it had just been the Senate, but the Tribunes had been created to give the people a voice in response to civic protests at one point.)

The equivalent of the Supreme Court Judges were the Quaestors.  I think the consuls appointed them.