Rome was once the world’s most powerful civilization. The vast empire lasted over 2000 years, and lied the foundation for Western Civilization as it is known today. Currently, the United States has taken the role of the world’s most powerful nation, and protecter of freedom and Western Civilization. There are many parallels that can be drawn between the two juggernauts — especially on the government systems: What type of government, how and why they were founded, and the governmental structure of each civilization. However, the two are certainly not identical.

It is well known that the United States was founded in response to what the then British colonists felt to be tyranny imposed by the British monarchy, especially the King himself. The American Revolutionary War was then waged, resulting in the establishment of the United States — which quickly becomes republic.

Rome has a very similar story. Replace the British with the Etruscans, the war with a coup, and go directly to a republic. It is not an accident that the US has such a similar founding. The founding fathers drew inspiration heavily from the ancient Romans. Both the founders of Rome, and those the United States created a Senate where open debate can be held. Both governments have a body meant to represent the common people, both have an executive that controls the military, both have codifies laws and court systems, and both are run largely by lawyers.

The most glaring difference is in the constitutions. Rome never had a written constitution, unlike the United States. This made the Roman Republic more flexible the the American republic is. The flip side is that Rome’s unspoken constitution — based off of tradition, or the “way of the ancestors” — allowed for individuals to grab more power for themselves, eventually leading to the downfall of the republic, and establishment of the empire. The United States learned from this. Not only writing down the constitution, but including provisions to separate powers, and prevent one person, or one small group of people from gaining total control of the government.

Another large difference is in the representation. Rome had the Senate — an advisory group that could not pass laws, but was almost always listened to — and the Tribunate, which could veto any law, create and pass laws, and was a representation of the common people. The United States has a Senate and a House of Representatives. Both can pass laws, but have limitations on what can be done, and both must pass the same law. Those in either house for the United States vote directly on laws. In Rome the citizenry voted on things in two main groups, one for the Senate and one for the Tribunate — but elections were for everyone.

Rome also had two executives (the Consuls) who jointly ruled, while America has one ( the President) who governs with the judiciary and Congress. Religion is also secular from the American government, but was officiated by the Roman government with the emperors in the Roman empire even being the head priest.

Both of these civilizations have Republican systems of government. However, they are not the same. The Roman people needed to vote on everything, whereas the American people only vote in elections. Both civilizations export civilization through force, and became very powerful through their military might. The United States has learned from the failings of Rome, and will, with much luck, not forget what happened in Rome, not allow power to accumulate in the hands of the few, and not let history repeat itself.