Which of these reflects a democratic principle? once appointed, a roman senator could stay in office for life. patricians had certain rights that plebeians did not have. roman citizens gathered to vote at legislative assemblies. some roman slaves were freed by their owners.

The Roman citizens gathering in assemblies to vote, is a fundamental element of a democratic society.

This concept of fate became the new meaning of "ming." so the idea of "tian ming," the mandate of heaven, was first used by the kings of the  zhou dynasty,  who  justified their overthrow of the shang by saying that heaven had punished the shang for immorality and transferred its favor to the  zhou.