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How did Roman plebeians gain a greater role in passing laws?

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President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Medicare Bill at a table beside former President Harry S. Truman, with Lady Bird Johnson and others standing behind them. — Legislation Former U.S. president Harry S. Truman (right) looking on as U.S. Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Medicare bill at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, July 30, 1965.

Plebeians in ancient Rome gradually increased their legislative influence through a prolonged political struggle known as the Conflict of the Orders. Initially excluded from public office and the Senate, they utilized organized withdrawals from the state, or secessio, to compel patrician concessions.1

Key developments in their legislative role included:

The Law of the Twelve Tables (c. 451–450 BCE): By demanding written laws, plebeians gained transparency, protecting themselves against the arbitrary use of power by patrician magistrates who previously held a monopoly on legal knowledge.2
The Concilium Plebis: Established in 471 BCE, this exclusive plebeian assembly allowed them to organize and vote by tribe. Presided over by plebeian tribunes, this body became a primary vehicle for expressing and agitating for their demands.34
The Lex Hortensia (287 BCE): This landmark law, passed by the dictator Quintus Hortensius, made resolutions passed by the plebeian assembly (plebiscita) binding on all Roman citizens, including patricians, without requiring Senate approval.15

Following 287 BCE, the Concilium Plebis became a vital legislative organ due to its simpler procedures compared to other assemblies.43