<em>The Roman Republic structure of government change and develop over time</em> from the epoch of the <em>Emperor</em> being the absolute power in Rome, to become a Republic with the figure of the Senate, elected by the citizens to represent the voice of the people.
The executive power was held in two <u>consuls</u>. There were magistrates or praetor, a kind of a judicial officer or administrator. There were also <u>assemblies</u>, that represented the voice of the people by the Senators that did not receive any payment and served for life.
The Republic collapsed due to the many internal conspiracies, like the one in times of Marcus Tullius Cicero, when the senator Lucius Sergius Catiline conspired against the Roman government.
Government leaders carved some of Rome's most important laws into 12 great tablets. The Twelve Tables, as they came to be known, were the first Roman laws put in writing. Although the laws were rather harsh by today's standards, they did guarantee every citizen equal treatment under the law.
Congressional Reconstruction, guided by Radical Republicans, aggressively pursued political equality for African Americans as defined by several pieces of legislation and the 14th Amendment. Conflict between Congress and President Andrew Johnson escalated until he was impeached.
The Declaration of Independence is an important part of American democracy because first it contains the ideals or goals of our nation. Second it contains the complaints of the colonists against the British king. Third, it contains the arguments the colonists used to explain why they wanted to be free of British rule.
