Which accurately describes the Roman Empire's system of government prior to Julius Caesar?

The Roman empire was a republic before Caesar took over.

Explanation:

By the time rome had won the Punic Wars they had acquired so much land the government could not keep all the citizens in check. The factors that played into the fall of the republic were due to the widespread land that Rome ran. Rome had to build several large armies that could keep the different regions in check. each army had a general the was in charge and in time the armies became more loyal to the generals that ran them than to the republic of Rome. The Consuls, The Senate, and The Assembly were the three branches of the republic, in that specific order from most important to least important. There were only two counsels who made the big decisions, there were five hundred senet whom which the counsel were selected from. and there was the assembly who could voice their opinions on political matters, but had no actual power. The assembly were all the citizens. In times of great need like in a war, someone would be selected to be a dictator and make all the decisions. he served a six month term only.