Similarities;Ancient Rome in Modern Americ (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date Similarities;Ancient Rome in Modern America There really is something fascinating about comparing American society and ancient Rome, for there are great similarities in all different areas. Let’s explore these similarities: Political Structure and Republic Ideals * Roman Republic: Ancient Rome's political system until 509 BC was a complexly-governed Republic. Within it there were two consuls, chosen by citizens, and a Senate of mainly aristocratic makeup with strong clout in the areas of foreign policy and finance. * American Republic: Just so,the United States, founded on the republic principle, copies this with a President (akin to Roman consuls) and as stated by Parkinson (319),a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. This arrangement is similar to the Roman Senate and popular assemblies. Also, just like the Roman Constitution, the U.S. Constitution establishes a basic framework for governance. Checks and Balances: Rome and America both created mechanisms to ensure that no single branch of government would rule supreme. A provision similar to the Presidential veto of Congressional legislation allowed Roman consuls to mutually veto decisions. Architectural Influence * Roman Architectural Elements: Rome's architectural developments--arches, vaults and domes, the adaptation of Greek-style columns --made a clear point in architecture. * American Buildings: The design of the U.S. Capitol, with its large dome and columned front, exactly reflects structures like the Pantheon in Rome.Some other examples are the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., which take heavily from Roman themes. Legal System and Law * Roman Legal Principles: The Twelve Tables, Rome's legal framework, made rights and procedure the centerpiece. According to Elmansouri (113), it introduced terms like 'innocent until proven guilty' and the idea of pleading one's case before a judge or jury...