The Roman empire had the Republican government. All of this began in 509 B.C.E when the Roman overthrew the Etruscan. The citizen (patricians wealthy people   and plebeians the lower-class) were important.  The majority were the plebeians and they started to revolt around 494 B.C.  One of the reasons for The Twelve Tables were because of the Patricians (the minority)trying to change the law to benefit them.