Social Structures during the Roman Republic Offices, Assemblies, and Religion

Political Order 4th century to end of the Republic Direct participation of citizens All roles performed under the watch of the public eye Officials dealt directly with those they governed - lack of a bureaucracy Government dominated by a few elite families 4th century to end of the Republic Direct participation of citizens All roles performed under the watch of the public eye Officials dealt directly with those they governed - lack of a bureaucracy Government dominated by a few elite families

Government Offices Quaestors Formed in the mid 5th century Oversaw public money Supervised the treasury (Temple of Saturn) and the fund that generals took on campaigns Aediles Elected annually Two plebian and two patrician (curule aediles) Maintained temples, city streets, markets Judged disputes that arose in the markets Quaestors Formed in the mid 5th century Oversaw public money Supervised the treasury (Temple of Saturn) and the fund that generals took on campaigns Aediles Elected annually Two plebian and two patrician (curule aediles) Maintained temples, city streets, markets Judged disputes that arose in the markets

Government Offices Praetor Elected annually Originally one, then two (242 BC), then more as the empire expanded Office opened to plebians through the Conflict of Orders Leading officials in Rome when consuls were absent on campaign Acted as judge Different praetors had different roles Propraetor - govern a province Wore the toga praetexta, held imperium, 6 lictors Praetor Elected annually Originally one, then two (242 BC), then more as the empire expanded Office opened to plebians through the Conflict of Orders Leading officials in Rome when consuls were absent on campaign Acted as judge Different praetors had different roles Propraetor - govern a province Wore the toga praetexta, held imperium, 6 lictors

Government Offices Consul 2 consuls chosen each year Generals of the army Made sacrifices, presided over meetings of the senate, addressed assemblies, listened to complaints, made judgments Proconsul - govern a province Toga praetexta, curule, imperium, 12 lictors Consul 2 consuls chosen each year Generals of the army Made sacrifices, presided over meetings of the senate, addressed assemblies, listened to complaints, made judgments Proconsul - govern a province Toga praetexta, curule, imperium, 12 lictors

Government Offices Tribune of the Plebs Office formed during the Conflict of Orders Most important of the lesser officeholders Had the right to summon citizens to vote Ability to block public actions that they thought were unlawful or inappropriate Veto power over consuls (except when appointing a dictator) Protects the Plebians They could not prevent praetors and consuls from acting as they wished outside the city of Rome (so they could not interfere with campaigns) Tribune of the Plebs Office formed during the Conflict of Orders Most important of the lesser officeholders Had the right to summon citizens to vote Ability to block public actions that they thought were unlawful or inappropriate Veto power over consuls (except when appointing a dictator) Protects the Plebians They could not prevent praetors and consuls from acting as they wished outside the city of Rome (so they could not interfere with campaigns)

Government Offices Censor 2 censors Elected very 5 years, held office for 18 months Counted citizens and assigned them to centuries and tribes Based on place of residence, property, dependents, and even character Selected the 300 senators based on rank Highest ranking senator was given the title princeps senatus Censor 2 censors Elected very 5 years, held office for 18 months Counted citizens and assigned them to centuries and tribes Based on place of residence, property, dependents, and even character Selected the 300 senators based on rank Highest ranking senator was given the title princeps senatus

Dictator Elected in times of emergencies Senate would declare that a dictator was needed, and the consuls would select one In power for 6 months All other magistrates, except Tribune of the Plebs, were suspended 24 lictors, highest imperium Magister Equitum - master of the horses appointed as second in command 6 lictors, praetor role Elected in times of emergencies Senate would declare that a dictator was needed, and the consuls would select one In power for 6 months All other magistrates, except Tribune of the Plebs, were suspended 24 lictors, highest imperium Magister Equitum - master of the horses appointed as second in command 6 lictors, praetor role

Imperium and Auspicium Imperium a special right to command Religious association Gave magistrates authority to lead armies and punish offenders Imperium limited by office and presence of higher offices Auspicium Right to seek the approval of the gods for their tenure in office and their official actions Rituals of divination known as auspices, read by augurs Imperium a special right to command Religious association Gave magistrates authority to lead armies and punish offenders Imperium limited by office and presence of higher offices Auspicium Right to seek the approval of the gods for their tenure in office and their official actions Rituals of divination known as auspices, read by augurs

Cursus Honorum Problem with same people holding offices Order of public offices Minimum age for each office (patricians could subtract 2 years from minimum age) Though rarely allowed in the 1st century BC It was a mark of great political success to obtain a position in suo anno Cicero - “new man,” elected to consul in suo anno Problem with same people holding offices Order of public offices Minimum age for each office (patricians could subtract 2 years from minimum age) Though rarely allowed in the 1st century BC It was a mark of great political success to obtain a position in suo anno Cicero - “new man,” elected to consul in suo anno

Cursus Honorum 10 years of military duty (20-30) Military Tribune - 24 legion commanders Quaestor (30) Aedile (36) Not required to move on to next step Praetor (39) Consul (42) Highest office Censor (usually had to have served as consul) 10 years of military duty (20-30) Military Tribune - 24 legion commanders Quaestor (30) Aedile (36) Not required to move on to next step Praetor (39) Consul (42) Highest office Censor (usually had to have served as consul)

The Senate 300 men usually all office holders were senators, usually lifelong membership Met when summoned by consul, praetor, or tribunes of the plebs Advisory role to the officials of Rome Gradually assumed more active role 300 men usually all office holders were senators, usually lifelong membership Met when summoned by consul, praetor, or tribunes of the plebs Advisory role to the officials of Rome Gradually assumed more active role

Assemblies Open to all male citizens Not representative Voted on officeholders, laws, and trials Officials determined the agenda, citizens only discussed and voted Contiones - occasions just for discussion and debate Comitia and concilia - voting All assemblies met in Rome (or near) Open to all male citizens Not representative Voted on officeholders, laws, and trials Officials determined the agenda, citizens only discussed and voted Contiones - occasions just for discussion and debate Comitia and concilia - voting All assemblies met in Rome (or near)

Comitia Centuriata Organization mirrored the army Elected consuls, praetors, and censors Voted on matters of war and peace Only an official with imperium could summon the assembly Voting done by century (determined by class) Each century got one vote Favored upper classes Organization mirrored the army Elected consuls, praetors, and censors Voted on matters of war and peace Only an official with imperium could summon the assembly Voting done by century (determined by class) Each century got one vote Favored upper classes

Comitia Tributa Organized by tribes 4 tribes in the city 31 in the country One vote per tribe no matter how many people in assembly Elected quaetors, curule aediles, and military tribunes Had the power to try cases (though taken away in later reforms) Legislative power Organized by tribes 4 tribes in the city 31 in the country One vote per tribe no matter how many people in assembly Elected quaetors, curule aediles, and military tribunes Had the power to try cases (though taken away in later reforms) Legislative power

Concilium Plebis Assembly for plebeians Passed laws, elected magistrates (tribunes and plebeian aediles), and tried judicial cases Organized based on tribes Assembly for plebeians Passed laws, elected magistrates (tribunes and plebeian aediles), and tried judicial cases Organized based on tribes

Religion Not separated from governmental institutions Cheif magistrates performed major rites of the city Officials were often advised by priests Pontifex (pontifices) exercised general supervision over the religion, rites, and the Roman calendar 9 pontifices by 3rd century, 15 in 1st century Headed by the pontifex maximus Not separated from governmental institutions Cheif magistrates performed major rites of the city Officials were often advised by priests Pontifex (pontifices) exercised general supervision over the religion, rites, and the Roman calendar 9 pontifices by 3rd century, 15 in 1st century Headed by the pontifex maximus

Religion Augurs Auspices which confirmed officials power in the eyes of the gods Vestal Virgins Wives of pontifex maximus and the priest of Jupiter (flamen Dialis) took part in some of their husbands ritual responsibilities Augurs Auspices which confirmed officials power in the eyes of the gods Vestal Virgins Wives of pontifex maximus and the priest of Jupiter (flamen Dialis) took part in some of their husbands ritual responsibilities