Roman Republican Government: Dictators, Senate, and Assemblies

The Roman Dictator

Judges are habitually elected at a time when the state is in danger. In these cases, all powers of the state are placed in the hands of the dictator to save the State. It is considered politically irresponsible and has a maximum term of 6 months.

The Senate

The Senate is a citizens' assembly representing the upper house in the Roman Republican Constitution. It consists of an assembly of elder ex-magistrates who previously served as consuls or magistrates. While not mandatory and lacking the power to address the people directly, they possess great auctoritas. No consul took action against the Senate, as they effectively handled the State. As Kunkel noted: "In the body of the senators of Rome are the head and arms, because the consuls are those who carry out actions."

People's Assemblies

These are considered the lower chambers, serving as organs through which the people participate in State decisions.

1. Curie Elections

The oldest form of assembly, dating back to the monarchical epoch, which held the function of granting the power to command to the new monarch.

2. Centuriate Elections

The most important of the popular assemblies, characterized by a military structure. Tradition attributes the introduction of this system to Servius Tullius, who divided citizens into 5 classes based on wealth:

• The 5 classes are subdivided into centuries.
• The 1st class has 80 centuries.
• The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th classes have 20 centuries each.
• The 5th class has 30 centuries, plus 5 centuries of soldiers.
• This forms a total body of 193 centuries.

In these elections, every century votes, but not all votes carry the same weight. Voters would deposit their ballots in polls, indicating 'UR' (Uti Rogas - I vote for) or 'AI' (Antiquo Iure - I vote against).

3. Tribal Assemblies (Comitia Tributa)

According to traditional history, when Romulus founded Rome, he divided the city into 4 zones called tribes. Eventually, there were 31 urban and rural tribes. Their primary function was the election of lower magistrates.

4. Concilia Plebis

This assembly consists only of commoners and meets at the request of the tribune of the plebs. Its role includes the election of the tribune of the plebs and voting on rules for commoners. The Lex Hortensia of 286 B.C. established that the rules issued by the concilia plebis have the same validity as those of the Centuriate elections.