Roman Republican Government in a

Nutshell
By Philip Katz Copyright 2010

Roman Republican Government

From “Imperator”

By Philip Katz Copyright 2010

Imperium:

Imperium was the power invested in Consuls and Praetors, to command armies and govern provinces. Imperium was
represented by a red ribbon tied around the Imperium holder’s cuirass. Imperium exists only outside the Pomerium or
sacred border of the city. Imperium was conferred by the Comitia Curiata, the oldest of the four Popular Assemblies.

Fasces:

The Fasces was a bundle of wood rods that was bound by ribbons. They represent Roman civil power and are carried by
Lictors aka ceremonial body guards when escorting the consul or dictator. An axe was inserted outside the Pomerium.

Lictors:

Lictors were ceremonial body guards and constables that attended magistrates in public and private. Different numbers of
Lictors attended the different magistrates. They also carried the Fasces on their left shoulder. They preceded the magistrate
when walking in public and stood at his side when the magistrate addressed the people. They were dressed in crimson
tunics with wide black belts and their headquarters was on the Arx of the Capitol near the Carcer.
Cursus Honorum:

Literally course of honor. The political career path of a Roman of the Senatorial class.

Magistrates

Dictator:

Literally master of the infantry, the office of Dictator was not part of the normal functioning of government, rather was only
instituted in time of great danger to the state, such as foreign invasion or internal strife. The dictator was appointed by the
senior consul at the request of the senate and the term was for six months. The dictator could not be prosecuted for any
actions taken by him during his term. The office had fallen out of use by the first century BC.

Master of the Horse:

Literally the master of the cavalry, the office of the Master of the Horse was the deputy to the Dictator and thus only
created with the Dictatorship.

Censor:

Term of office was eighteen months. Office was filled every five years by two censors. Not part of the cursus honorum. Only
those who had held the office of consul were eligible to hold the censorship. The censors let contracts for the collection of
taxes in the provinces, public works projects, counted the population and put citizens in to the appropriate class based on
wealth (There were five classes of citizens, from senatorial to headcount.) and kept the Senate’s rolls with the power to
expel unqualified senators.

Consul:

Term of office was one year. The consulship was the top rung of the cursus honorum or traditional ascent of power in the
Senate. The minimum age was 42. Two consuls were curule magistrates meaning they sat on a curule chair, a symbol of
their office and they could also hold Imperium. They were the chief magistrates of the Roman Senate, elected by the
comitia centuriata or centuriate assembly. Consuls convened and presided over the senate and assemblies excluding the
plebeian assembly. There was a senior consul based on the popular vote. The consul could promulgate legislation, and
command Rome’s armies.

Praetor:

Term of office was one year. Part of the cursus honorum. The eight praetors, curule magistrates, were responsible for the
administration of the city of Rome. They acted as judges in law courts and dealt with issues between Romans and
foreigners.

Aedile:

Term of office was one year. Not part of the cursus honorum. Four aediles, two curule, two plebeian, were in charge of the
maintenance of public buildings, sponsored games and feasts and the nona or grain dole.

Quaestor:

Term of office was one year. Part of the cursus honorum. Minimum age was 30 years. Twenty quaestors maintain public
records, administered the treasury and served in the provinces assisting the provincial governor. The office entitled the
holder to membership in the Senate.

Tribune of the Plebeians:

Term of office was one year. Not part of the cursus honorum. Ten Tribunes protected the interests of the people against the
power of the Senate. The Tribune could veto any action within Rome. They could convene the plebeian assembly and
promulgate legislation. The election to office entitled the holder to membership in the Senate.

Rome’s Governing Bodies

The Senate:

The Senate membership was at 100 then 300 and in 80bc was 600. It was populated by magistrates and former magistrates
who were members for life, unless expelled by the censors for misconduct. Senators could not engage in common business
and could only make money from rents. The Senate was an advisory body with no legislative powers, yet senators were
responsible for foreign policy, acting as judges and jurors, overseeing public works and festivals and prosecuting wars.
Provincial governors were appointed from the ranks of former praetors and consuls and given the titles of propraetor and
proconsul respectively. Normally the Senate met in the Curia Hostilia (Senate house) or the temple of Bellona when war was
being discussed or if they had to meet outside the Pomerium (sacred boundary of the city).

Assemblies:

There were four popular assemblies or comitia and all male citizens were eligible to vote in them with the exception of the
Plebeian Assembly in which patricians were excluded. They met outdoors at the Forum or at the Saepta on Mar’s field. 
After 136bc voting was by secret ballot. Citizens voted in groups (curiae, centuries or tribes) where votes were only counted
till a simple majority was achieved. Hence the groups that voted at the end rarely had their ballots cast. Assemblies met to
vote on resolutions put before them by magistrates, tribunes or the Senate or to elect magistrates.

Comitia Curiata

The oldest of the assemblies had no legislative powers and by the late Republic was largely ceremonial. It was divided into
curiae or wards. There were ten curiae in each of the three original tribes (Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres). The last official
function was conferring Imperium on consuls and praetors before embarking for their province.

Comitia Centuriata

The Comitia Centuriata aka Centuriate assembly was originally an assembly of the army. During Rome’s early regal period
through the late republic the army was made up of private citizens who were responsible for equipping themselves. The
wealthy who could afford the horses and the equipment required to serve in the cavalry were called equestrians or knights.
The less wealthy men were in the heavy infantry and those with less money fought as light infantry then non combatant
support if one was poor.

The voting in the Centuriate Assembly took place at the Saepta on Mar’s Field and was divided into three hundred seventy
three centuries. The first eighteen centuries to vote were equestrians followed by those of descending wealth.

The centuriate assembly elected the Curule Magistrates and was a court of appeals for crimes involving the death sentence.

Comitia Tributa

The Comitia Tributa aka the Tribal Assembly met at the Forum could be convened by a consul, praetor or tribune. There
were thirty five tribes based on location of residence. It could, vote on bills put before it by a magistrate, elect non curule
magistrates and was a court of appeals in non capital crimes.

Concilium Plebis

The Concilium Plebis aka Plebeian Assembly was made up of only Plebeians who voted in their thirty five tribes and elected
tribunes and plebeian aediles. It was a legislative assembly and its laws aka plebiscites, were binding on all citizens.