Roman Government in the Republic

Roman Society Government:The Senate(debates issues and puts forward proposals for laws (leges) The Assemblies(votes on the senate’s proposals and passes laws but doesn’t have the ability to make laws) The People: The nobility (Patricians) The Knights (Equites) The people (Plebians) non citizens & slaves

A political career A man of senatorial rank would start their career early, possibly working in the law courts or for one of the city administrators. A man of senatorial rank would start their career early, possibly working in the law courts or for one of the city administrators. They would then go to the provinces and hold a very minor command. They would then go to the provinces and hold a very minor command. Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory and prestige on the field of battle were essential qualities in a Roman politician. Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory and prestige on the field of battle were essential qualities in a Roman politician. Upon returning to Rome they would stand for election to one of the smaller administrative posts such as Aedile. Upon returning to Rome they would stand for election to one of the smaller administrative posts such as Aedile. After which it would be back to the provinces but this time one could expect to hold a mire influential post in command of a sizeable force. After which it would be back to the provinces but this time one could expect to hold a mire influential post in command of a sizeable force.

The career would continued to jump between Rome and the provinces with each successive step requiring greater influence, prestige and ability and as such offered much stiffer competition until one reached the consulship and then went onto become a governor in the provinces. The career would continued to jump between Rome and the provinces with each successive step requiring greater influence, prestige and ability and as such offered much stiffer competition until one reached the consulship and then went onto become a governor in the provinces. All the time behind this was the idea that the senate itself controlled who got what post and when. By doing so they made sure that they all had an equal chance of holding posts and exploiting the system while also controlling anyone who got too powerful. All the time behind this was the idea that the senate itself controlled who got what post and when. By doing so they made sure that they all had an equal chance of holding posts and exploiting the system while also controlling anyone who got too powerful. This system can be best summed up in the phrase peace with honour. Peace within the ranks of senators and honour in making sure that no one had more power or influence than you did. This system can be best summed up in the phrase peace with honour. Peace within the ranks of senators and honour in making sure that no one had more power or influence than you did.

Ladders of Office

Quaestor Elected by comitia populi tributa Elected by comitia populi tributa Financial officer Financial officer Age 31 Age (Sulla’s reform) 20 (Sulla’s reform) Enrolled in Senate after term Enrolled in Senate after term

Aedile Aedes (temple) Aedes (temple) Elected by concilium plebis (plebeian - 2) Elected by concilium plebis (plebeian - 2) Elected by comitia tributa (curule/patrician - 2) Elected by comitia tributa (curule/patrician - 2) Age 36 Age 36 Duties: Duties: Public buildings Public buildings Archives Archives Streets Streets Traffic Traffic Water supply Water supply Markets Markets Weights & Measures Weights & Measures Grain supply Grain supply Exact fines Exact fines Public games Public games Public order Public order Assist Tribunes Assist Tribunes

Tribune of the Plebs Open only to plebeians Open only to plebeians Elected by concilium plebis Elected by concilium plebis Defend lives & property of plebeians Defend lives & property of plebeians Summon plebs to Assembly Summon plebs to Assembly Veto Veto laws laws Elections Elections Senatus consultum Senatus consultum NOT Interrex or dictator NOT Interrex or dictator 287 BC: plebiscite binding on all citizens 287 BC: plebiscite binding on all citizens Can hold office ONLY once Can hold office ONLY once 10 elected annually 10 elected annually

Imperium Prerogative of higher office (praetor & above) Prerogative of higher office (praetor & above) Lictores Lictores Auspices Auspices Command army Command army Life & death Life & death Immunity from lawsuits Immunity from lawsuits

Lictores

Praetor Prae-ire Prae-ire Age 39 Age 39 8 elected annually 8 elected annually Elected by comitia centuriata Elected by comitia centuriata 6 lictors 6 lictors Judicial duties Judicial duties Summon senate Summon senate Supervise defense of Rome Supervise defense of Rome Govern province after term Govern province after term Imperium Imperium

Consul Age 42 Age 42 2 elected annually 2 elected annually Elected by comitia centuriata Elected by comitia centuriata Enter office on March 15 Enter office on March BC: Licinium plebiscite 367 BC: Licinium plebiscite 1 pleb elected annually 1 pleb elected annually 12 lictors 12 lictors Lead armies Lead armies Direct Foreign Policy Direct Foreign Policy Govern province after term Govern province after term Eponymous Eponymous Imperium Imperium

Occasional Magistrates Censor Censor Every 5 years Every 5 years 18 month term 18 month term Duties: Duties: Review rolls of senate Review rolls of senate Enforce morality at Rome Enforce morality at Rome Dictator Dictator Constitutional office Constitutional office Times of emergency Times of emergency 6 month term 6 month term Interrex Interrex When elections cannot be held When elections cannot be held Restore order Restore order 5 day term 5 day term

Assemblies Comitia Comitia Assembly of the Roman people summoned in groups Assembly of the Roman people summoned in groups Concilium Concilium Part of the people are summoned Part of the people are summoned Plebs are summoned Plebs are summoned Contio Contio All of the people are summoned All of the people are summoned

Assemblies Comitia Curiata Comitia Curiata 30 curiae 30 curiae Confirm appointments of magistrates Confirm appointments of magistrates Witness installation of priests Witness installation of priests Confer imperium on praetors & consuls Confer imperium on praetors & consuls Comitia Centuriata Comitia Centuriata Summoned by magistrate with imperium Summoned by magistrate with imperium Enact laws Enact laws Elect praetors, consuls, censors Elect praetors, consuls, censors Declare war and peace Declare war and peace Inflict death penalty Inflict death penalty Meet in Campus Martius in military order Meet in Campus Martius in military order

Assemblies Comitia Plebis tributa Comitia Plebis tributa Summoned by praetor, consul, tribune of plebs Summoned by praetor, consul, tribune of plebs Meet in Forum Meet in Forum Elect tribunes of plebs & plebeian aediles Elect tribunes of plebs & plebeian aediles Trials for non-capital offences Trials for non-capital offences plebiscites plebiscites Comitia populi tributa Comitia populi tributa Convoked by praetor or consul Convoked by praetor or consul Elect quaestors Elect quaestors Elect curule aediles Elect curule aediles Elect military tribunes Elect military tribunes Laws Laws Minor trials Minor trials

Senatorial Perks Latus clavus Latus clavus Special shoes Special shoes

Senatorial Perks Curule Chair Curule Chair

Senate: Membership Open to ex-quaestors and above Open to ex-quaestors and above 100,000 sesterces or above 100,000 sesterces or above No freedmen No freedmen No Sons of freedmen No Sons of freedmen No morally depraved men No morally depraved men No petty industrialists No petty industrialists

Senate: term Serve for life Serve for life Removed by censor Removed by censor Can be reinstated Can be reinstated

Senate: Duties Advise magistrates Advise magistrates Ratify deliberations of the people Ratify deliberations of the people Invalidate laws Invalidate laws Judge criminal and civil cases Judge criminal and civil cases Advise Advise internal and foreign policy internal and foreign policy Finance Finance Religion Religion legislation legislation Criticize: Criticize: Conduct of war Conduct of war Peace treaties Peace treaties

Senate: Duties Treasury Treasury Supervise revenue & expenditures Supervise revenue & expenditures Fix levies Fix levies Determine rate of tribute Determine rate of tribute Regulate coinage Regulate coinage Elect interrex Elect interrex Nominate dictator Nominate dictator Choose and extend commissions Choose and extend commissions

Senate: Meetings Summoned by magistrate with imperium Summoned by magistrate with imperium Summoned by tribune Summoned by tribune Meet in consecrated place Meet in consecrated place curia curia

Artists view of Senate proceedings

Who’s Who in the Senate Optimates-Sulla, Cicero, Cato Pompey( occasionally) Optimates-Sulla, Cicero, Cato Pompey( occasionally) Populares Gracchi Brothers, Marius, Caesar Populares Gracchi Brothers, Marius, Caesar

Roman Constitution Separation of Powers: Polybius

Polybius- “Whenever one of these three elements swells in importance..it becomes apparent none of them is completely independent, but that the designs of anyone can be blocked by the rest.”

Roman Provincial Government

Roman Values Mos Maiorum Mos Maiorum Gratia Gratia Amicitae Amicitae Nobilitas Nobilitas Dignitas Dignitas Gravitas Gravitas Fides Fides Pietas Pietas Find the meanings of these terms. Find the meanings of these terms.

Elections It is important to know how Roman politics worked if we are to fully understand the driving force behind many of the actions taken by politicians during this period. It is important to know how Roman politics worked if we are to fully understand the driving force behind many of the actions taken by politicians during this period. Roman politics was nothing if it wasn’t corrupt. Roman politics was nothing if it wasn’t corrupt. Power and Wealth were the two driving forces behind any politicians career. There was no sense that government was for the interests of the people or that there was a moral obligation to run government in the interests of the people. Power and Wealth were the two driving forces behind any politicians career. There was no sense that government was for the interests of the people or that there was a moral obligation to run government in the interests of the people. The senators were out for themselves and themselves but to be able to satisfy their greed they had to first get power and this was equally corrupt. The senators were out for themselves and themselves but to be able to satisfy their greed they had to first get power and this was equally corrupt.

Although bribery was technically illegal it went on all the time. Although bribery was technically illegal it went on all the time. This was possible because of the way society was structured. This was possible because of the way society was structured. The Client-Patron system Roman society was heavily structured along lines of wealth and position. Those above you in society were patrons. Those below you were clients. Roman society was heavily structured along lines of wealth and position. Those above you in society were patrons. Those below you were clients. Patrons would look after clients in business, legal matters and sometimes by financial grants for favours in return. Patrons would look after clients in business, legal matters and sometimes by financial grants for favours in return.

THE CLIENT PATRON SYSTEM

The higher up the scale one was the more clients you had to look after. Equally you could control the clients of your clients and their client also etc. The higher up the scale one was the more clients you had to look after. Equally you could control the clients of your clients and their client also etc. Consequently a senator who wanted to win an election would ask his clients to vote for him. They in return would ask their clients to vote for the patron and so on down the line. Consequently a senator who wanted to win an election would ask his clients to vote for him. They in return would ask their clients to vote for the patron and so on down the line. This way a senator could count on thousands of votes while only having direct contact with a manageable number of clients. This way a senator could count on thousands of votes while only having direct contact with a manageable number of clients. But the expectations of patrons were matched by the expectations of their clients and to ensure a loyal client base patrons would distribute their wealth freely. But the expectations of patrons were matched by the expectations of their clients and to ensure a loyal client base patrons would distribute their wealth freely.