1. The Structure of the Roman Republic
509 BCE – 27 BCE
From the Lex Hortensia to the Principate

2. The Public Thing (Respublica)

3. 3 Houses of Government Senate Comitia Centuriata
Comitia Tributa Populi

4. Senate
Body of 300 (raised to 600 by Sulla) of the most powerful men in Ancient Rome. Developed Roman policy.
Auctoritas
Senatus Consulta
Senatus Populusque Romanum (SPQR)
Senatus Consultum Ultimatum (SCU)

5. Comitia Centuriata
Military assembly (higher ranking soldiers, especially equites, knights had greater influence/ voting power)
Meets outside city walls
193 voting units (centuries): elects the most powerful magistracies: consuls, praetors, curule aediles, censors
Presided over by consuls
Can vote yes or no on some policy matters, especially war and peace

6. Comitia Tributa Populi
Popular Assembly: union between comitia tributa and consilium plebis occurred in 287BCE with the Lex Hortensia
Represented all Roman Citizens, including freed slaves.
Divided into 25 (later 35) tribal units, each which had 1 vote
Met within the city walls: usually the Forum
Tribune of the Plebs presided over this body

7. Powers of the Comitia Tributa Populi
Elected the 3 lower magistracies: tribune of the plebs, plebian aediles, and quaestors
From 287BCE onwards, all laws passed by this body had the force of law, binding on all Roman citizens

8. Cursus Honorem Consuls Praetors Curule Aediles Censors
Tribunes of the Plebs
Plebian Aediles
Quaestors

9. Quaestors
In charge of the military and civic treasury of Rome as well as keeping records.
Also acted as aides to the consuls.
10 quaestors elected per year (20 after Sulla)
collegiality and amicitia

10. Plebian Aediles
In charge of record keeping, plebeian games, care for temples, food supply.
2 Plebian Aediles were elected per year

11. Tribune of the Plebs
Had the Power of Veto (“I Forbid”) over actions of the Senate and Laws of the Comitia Tributa Populi
Presided over the Comitia Tributa Populi (had the power to propose legislation to this body)
“ius auxilii” (rights of assistance) protected people from undue punishment
Sacrosanct
10 tribunes elected per year

12. Censors
Hold a census of wealth to determine the status/ ranking for membership in the Centuries (Comitia Centuriata)
Every 5th year, the Censors selected from former magistrates to fill vacancies in the senate
2 censors were elected every 5 years for an 18 month term

13. Curule Aediles
City managers. Supervisor of public works. Oversaw the public works, temples markets, and the organization of festivals and games.
2 curule aediles elected every year

14. Praetors Imperium and Provincia
Legal Officers, Generals, Chief Law Officers of the Court
Also acted as a deputy to the consuls, in particular over administration of the provinces. Provincial governors were either drawn from former consuls (proconsul) or from former praetors (propraetor).
2 praetors were elected per year (later 6 – 8)

15. Consuls Commanders in Chief (Imperium)
Presided over the Comitia Centuriata
Could prepare and propose new laws.
Had veto power over each other.
2 consuls elected every year (and then could not be re-elected for 10 years)
Nobility (nobiles) = former consul or member of consular family

16. Dictator Reserved for war emergencies
Has total military, executive, and judicial powers
1 person not to exceed 6 months
Appointed by one of the consuls on the advice of the Senate

17. Polybius on the Mixed Regime
For if one fixed one’s eyes on the power of the consuls, the constitution seemed completely monarchical [monarchikon] and royal [basilikon]; if on that of the senate it seemed again to be aristocratic; and when one looked at the power of the masses, it seemed to be clearly a democracy.” [Polybius, Histories, Vol III, Book 6, Section 11, sentences 12-13]