In the context of ancient Rome, several features of its government helped limit individual power. Two key features that played a significant role in this limitation include:
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Checks and Balances: The Roman Republic established a system of checks and balances among different branches of government, such as the Senate, the Consuls, and other elected officials. Each branch had distinct powers and could counteract the others, which prevented any single individual from gaining excessive power.
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Term Limits and Rotating Officeholders: Roman officials, especially consuls, served for limited terms (typically one year) and often shared power with a colleague. This practice of having term limits and co-officials helped prevent any one individual from consolidating power indefinitely.
These features contributed to a political structure that emphasized collective decision-making and sought to avoid tyranny or the domination of any single individual.
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