Polybius's Rhetorical Examination Of The Roman Republic

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history, finding their roots and establishing a clear linage to their theoretical inception is the main purpose of this investigation. The linage will start with the historical accounts of Polybius and Cicero; followed by the ethics of Thomas Hobbs; John Locke’s rhetoric of property will follow; Montesquieu detailed rhetorical examination of the Roman Republic; concluding with the Federalist Papers. Through this thorough progression the overall impact of the Roman Empire and its influence on American Constitutionality will be exposed successfully. Moreover, to effectively present an abstract of this research project, shining light into a few basic key
Looking at the human race as a herd of sheep or any other kind of animal, coexisting, and flocking to the “strongest and bravest as leaders.” Polybius also goes into how there is a constant cycle progressively shifting from an oligarchy to a democracy in the ninth chapter of book six. Secondly, Polybius when talking about the political constitution emphasizes the proper distribution of powers. Three elements make up the Roman sovereign constitutionality: the consuls, the senate and the people. Interestingly enough this is the beginning of a trend going into future constitutional structural governments. Baron de Montesquieu also touches on the definition of a democracy, drawing inspiration form the Roman structure, “the body of people is possessed of the supreme power.” In The Spirt of Laws he also touches on the fact that similarities to Roman punishments enlighten other governments similarities to that of Rome. John Locke also touches on this separation of powers labeling then differently in The Two Treaties of Civil Government labeling then as legislative, executive, and federative