Question

2. What was the role of the senate in the Roman Republic?

Answer 1

Answer:

In the times of the eraly monarchy, the Senate rose as an advisory council made exclusively of patricians. In 509 BC it had 300 members. After the abolition of the monarchy, the Senate was the advisory council of the consuls (there were two consuls, they highest magistrates). The Senate was a permanent body, the consuls held office only for one year.  

In the early republic, the Senate - made of men of the social elites -continued to be an advisory council but it progressively won more powers. In the last two centuries of the republic, the Senate had much influence on domestic and foreign policies. It issued decrees that were respected; it controlled the state financial spending (a relevant power) and religious issues; the Senate appointed some high officials;  it held hearings for foreign ambassadors, distibuted the army legions, created provinces and decided on borders and territorial distribution.

Explanation: