The first emergence of the republican system in Tunisia took place in Carthage and dated back to the 4th century BC. This system was established by virtue of the «Constitution of Carthage» which guaranteed the right to vote and laid the foundations for the democratic organization of government in Tunisia.

In his book Politics, the Greek philosopher Aristotle (322-384 B.C.) addressed the legislative institutions provided for in the Constitution of Carthage, namely :

• The People’s Council : It included all citizens who met certain conditions set by law. It enjoyed many prerogatives related to war and peace, as well as to economic, cultural and social life.
  It also had the power to look into all cases.
• The Senate : Its members were elected by the people according to certain conditions set by law, such as citizenship, age, wealth, level of instruction, social status and personal capacities. The powers granted to the Senate covered all political and administrative fields.
• The Executive Branch : It was organized by the Carthaginian legislators who devoted to it several articles in the Constitution. The enforcement of laws and regulations was entrusted to two judges.
• The Judicial Branch: It was part of the prerogatives of the two judges who were responsible for the administration of justice, or delegated this power to specialized judges in charge of looking into the cases filed by citizens and rendering verdicts in accordance with the law.

In the Roman era, a similar system existed in Tunisian cities. In the year 212, the Roman citizenship was extended to large segments of «African Carthaginians». Carthage thus participated in the election of political officials in the central authority in Rome.

Absence of the Republic for long centuries :

Apart from these periods of Tunisia’s history, the people remained outside power, which entailed the absence of the Republic for long centuries during which the country was ruled by Princes, Sultans, Beys and other Monarchs holding absolute power. Only after Independence was the republican system re-established on July 25, 1957.