1. The magistrates of the roman republic

2. Consul Chief magistrates of Republic
Chief magistrates of Republic
2 elected each year : not get too powerful, keep an eye on each other
Took over jobs of king, therefore:
Head of State
Chief Judge
Chief General
Elected by comitia centuriata; invested with power by comitia curiata
Opened to plebeians in 367BC

3. Praetor
At first only one, then second added, then gradually increased to 16 by time of Caesar.
Regulated legal procedure, appointed juries to try cases
Elected by comitia centuriata; invested with power by comitia curiata
Opened to plebeians in 337BC

4. Quaestor Two elected annually by the comitia tributa
Two main functions:
preparation of evidence for public prosecutions
management of state accounts
Also in charge of state treasury; received and paid out all public money.
A quaestor accompanied a general on campaign to manage all finances + one attached to each province.
Therefore numbers had to grow. By the time of Caesar there were 40.
Opened to plebeians 421BC

5. Aedile Plebeian aediles: Two elected annually by comitia tributa
Only plebeians eligible
Kept the plebiscita in the temple of Ceres
Special charge of all buildings
Assisted in judicial work

6. Curule aediles Two elected annually Patricians only
Kept the senatus consulta in the temple of Saturn
Superintended public games
Looked after roads, public buildings, markets etc together with
plebeian aediles
304BC both sets of aediles thrown open to either patricians or plebeians
Two more added by Caesar in 44BC to superintend the corn dole

7. Tribune Full title = tribuni plebis (‘tribunes of the people’)
Full title = tribuni plebis (‘tribunes of the people’)
Two elected annually by comitia tributa
Only plebeians eligible
Chief powers/rights:
ius auxilium The right of protecting a citizen from the actions of a magistrate
intercessio The right of putting a veto on intended acts of all other magistrates, including other tribunes
presidency of plebeian assemblies
right to put rogationes to plebeian assemblies which, if accepted became plebiscita
right to coerce and punish plebeians

8. Powers confined to city limits
Protected by religious sanction (sacrosanctus)
Number gradually increased to 10
Could summon the senate, and, by 216BC, allowed to speak in it
Lex Hortensia of 287BC made their plebiscita binding on all citizens

9. Censor
Two elected by comitia centuriata every five years; held office for 18 months
Chief duties: hold the lustrum of citizens
prepare the list of citizens for the senate
give out public contracts for collecting taxes etc
manage finances of the republic
Also inquired into ‘conduct’ (both public and private) of every citizen; could degrade a citizen from his tribe etc.
First plebeian censor 351BC

10. Dictator Exceptional office, only for times of emergency
Appointed by the consuls for 6 months only
Superseded all existing magistrates and assemblies
As soon as crisis solved, should resign
Could not leave Italy
Had no power over the treasury
Appointed a magister equitum as his deputy

11. Pontifex Maximus Chief priest Head of state religion
Chief priest
Head of state religion
Presided over college of ‘pontifices’, responsible for regulation of the calendar & all important family ceremonies (eg adoption, betrothal etc)
Head of whole state clergy, including the Vestal Virgins
Very ‘political’ appointment

12. Proconsuls and Propraetors
Governors of the provinces from133BC
As names imply, former magistrates
Supreme military and judicial power in their province
No power whatever in the city
Remained in office until successor arrived (no set term of office)