Roman Republic: Magistracies and Assemblies Structure

Roman Magistrates and Political Structure

Ordinary Magistrates

The political situation was generally stable. Key roles included:

• Consul (Consular): Held the highest civil and military authority. They convened and chaired the Senate (directing political life). This role ceased when they became provincial governors (proconsul).
• Praetorian (Praetores): Responsible for administering justice. The Praetor Urbanus handled lawsuits among Roman citizens, while the Praetor Peregrinus managed jurisdiction outside the city. Upon finishing their term, they often became provincial governors (propraetor).
• Aedile (Aediles): Managed administration, including festivals, public games, and supervision of markets.
• Quaestor (Quaestores): Managed the treasury (aerarium) and raised taxes.
• Censor (Censors): Conducted the census of citizens, a duty performed every five years. They also controlled public morals.
• Tribune of the Plebs (Plebeian Tribune): Defended the common people against abuses by the patrician magistracies.

Extraordinary Magistrates

These were appointed during situations of imminent danger:

• Dictator (Dictator): Appointed with full powers. Elected former consuls, this role was limited to only six months.
• Master of Cavalry (Magister Equitum): The Dictator's lieutenant. The Dictator's decisions were not subject to appeal and could not be vetoed. The Dictator held the right to decide matters of life and death (imperium).

The Senate

Membership in the Senate was for life. Initially comprising 300 senators, this number increased to 600 during Sulla's time and to 900 under Julius Caesar. More than half were patricians, and the rest originated from the commoner class. Senators were appointed by the censors from former judges who had honorably completed their term. The Senate was the highest representative body of the republican constitution, where all legislative and executive decisions were ratified. Senate sessions were convened by the consuls, praetors, or the tribunes of the common people and took place in the Curia Hostilia in the Roman Forum.

Comitia or Popular Assemblies

The main functions of the assemblies were to develop and approve laws and elect magistrates. There were three types of assemblies:

Comitia Curiata (Curiate Elections)

Formed by patrician citizens, their role was reduced to certain religious and political formalities.

Comitia Centuriata (Centuriate Elections)

This assembly included all the people, patricians and plebeians, distributed according to their wealth into five classes or economic levels. This assembly was the most active: it ratified declarations of war, elected some magistrates (the cursus honorum), and dictated death sentences.

Comitia Tributa (Tribal Elections)

This assembly was organized by tribes based on the place of residence. It was the only meeting during which voting occurred in groups, considering the overall vote.