During the time of Ancient Rome, the structure of government and political culture developed and helped us base our government and political ideas on the ones we use today. Ancient Rome had three periods in its government: the republican period, the imperial period, and the monarchical period. Each period helped Rome build its government and structure its society in a specific way during its early years. The Romans were a direct democracy, meaning that everyone (who has the right) can vote, on who is in charge. The Republican period was the most influential period in their history on modern society. During the Republican period every male citizen enjoyed the privilege of voting (1) on legislation, (2) on the election of government officials. (Shelton 1988) Although it was a direct democracy at the time, it was decidedly more of an aristocracy than a democracy due to senators who were part of the Roman upper class, who controlled the nature of legislation that reached the assemblies. (Shelton 1988). People were brought together in three assemblies: the Comitia Centuriata, the Comitia Tributa and the Concilium Plebis. Voters were divided into voting units called centuries; divisions made based on the value and age of the properties; so that the richest people at a certain age were grouped together. (Shelton 1988) But, in most cases, all decisions were made by the wealthiest group of elders, given their power over the community. During the Republican period, political power was one of the most important things to have. A man of senatorial rank would have spent his entire life planning, negotiating, attracting supporters, and dispensing favors. (Shelton 1988) This was all part of the political field... half of the document... peror. (Shelton 1988) Today in American society our senators are chosen through election and may come from diverse backgrounds, although most still come from wealthy and highly educated backgrounds. Our Senate today is very powerful but controlled by the United States Congress and the President. They do not have absolute power like in Roman society. The nature of government and political culture in ancient Roman society was just as complicated as our political infrastructure in modern Western civilization. Furthermore, it had its own unique characteristics that made it a mechanism of social ideal; one in which the population was provided for and at the same time governed by a girl of higher rank in the electorate. Work Cited How the Romans Did It: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History Jo-Ann Shelton - Oxford University Press - 1988