How can we compare Rome to how our society/government is today?

Ancient Rome and contemporary society are vastly different. However, some comparisons can be drawn.

For example, many social institutions of the West trace their origin back to Rome: Republicanism, the Senate, Consulships, and so on. And even if these institutions have changed a lot ever since, they still share some similarities with their current forms.

Another comparison can be drawn specifically between the United States and Rome. The United States is the most powerful country in the world, just like Rome was, and because of this, many political commentators have called the U.S. a modern empire, and often establish parallels between Roman history and American history.