Worksheet Answer Key

4 pts each question = 100 pts; only the words in bold are required for an answer to be correct

The first written code of laws in ancient Rome was called The Twelve Tables.
The code was established to allow all citizens access to the code of laws by which they were judged. There is no extant copy but much was written about the laws and so we have secondhand knowledge of their content.
No. The wealthy and poor were not treated equally under the law. Rome had a strict caste system comprised of senatores, equites, plebeians, freedmen, and slaves, and there were different penalties for different classes.
No. Roman citizens generally were not allowed to be given the death penalty.
Standing jury courts were called quaestiones perpetuae.
Service on juries was reserved to upper class citizens from the ranks of senatores and equites.
Juries differed from those of today in that majority vote only was required for condemnation and a jury of "peers" was not considered necessary for defendants of lower class rank.
Appeal from a verdict was not allowed until the time of Augustus.
The praetor urbanus was a judge before whom an accuser could bring an accused.
Crimes for which the death penalty was given to non-citizens included false witness, adultery, counterfeiting, possessing weapons with criminal intent, use of poison.
Citizens of the senatorial and equestrian classes were punished for major crimes by exile.
Typical punishments for crimes committed by plebeians were being sent to the mines or pilloried in public. Under the empire plebs could also be sent to the "games". (Since these generally resulted in the death of the criminal, a quick execution was a kinder punishment.)
The lawyer of ancient Rome differed from lawyers of 20th century America in that he could not be paid for his services; he could offer advice but the case was presented by the client; the lawyer could present a speech on behalf of either side.
People were interred in prison in ancient Rome only to await trial or execution. Occasionally one who violated the court also was imprisoned.
The patronus was an advocate.
The delator was an accuser.
The subscriptores were witnesses.
The praetor was a judge.
Nominis delatio was the making of a formal charge.
Postulatio was an application for a hearing.
Inquisitio was the trial in which the accuser presented his case.
Inscriptio was the charge in writing.
Praemium was a reward to the delator if his accusation was ultimately judged to be valid and he won his case.
Calumnia was a false accusation and was penalized by fine.
Praevaricatio was a conspiracy to prosecute falsely and also was penalized with a fine.

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