What elements of the Roman Republican political and legal system appear present in the systems of modern democracies?

The Roman Republican political and legal system are still present in modern democracies today after being founded in 509 B.C. The roman government was a based on a system of checks and balances. Also it employed separation of powers. This new system depended on the structure of society not laws to maintain peace and order. The roman republic had its own constitution. This was a set of guidelines and was not official. it was mostly unwritten. The roman republic also had a powerful senate. The senates duty was to oversee foreign policy and to take care of civil administration in the city. The roman republic also had a legislative assembly. This was made of us two groups of civilians. It was the people who had the main power. These elements listed are the basis for most of the modern democracies that function today.

Source:

Roman Republic. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic#The_Senate.

Picture source:

Republica Romana.svg. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Republica_Romana.svg.