twelve tables

the twelve tables arose out of necessity.  It became necessary for the laws of ancient Rome to be written down due to the fact that the wealthy upper class could change the laws to better suit them at the drop of a hat.  This greatly angered the lower class people because they could not hold office, vote, or have any say in the law of the republic.  After this, they staged a revolt and left the city.  The plebians had no choice, but to share the power with the plebians.  This gave to the rise of the pleb tribunes or common citizens that could sit on the assembly. With this new power, they could intervene legally, and veto other magistrates They then demanded that all laws be written down, or literally set in stone.  This gave rise to the twelve tables of ancient Rome.  They were laws that were posted in the center of the city that covered every aspect of life. They were not a constitution per se, but rather all of the laws of the republic compiled into one spot. Throughout the history of the republic, these laws were changed or added on to.