1. 1. Major governing bodies of Roman Republic 2. Sample politician 3. Changes implemented by Augustus

2. Consuls Two, elected yearly. Minimum age 43 Executive leaders, command armies, propose laws, act as judges Each may block the other After 367 BC at least one has to be a plebeian Each attended by 12 lictors with fasces Ex consuls (proconsuls) often  provincial governors

3. Senate Advising consuls, controlling finances, administering justice, foreign policy Senators from patrician nobility and from former holders of public office Need minimum amount of wealth (and must be at least 25 years old) Appointed each year by censor Not salaried

4. Senate Many senators holding position for life Senators serving as magistrates Lawsuits as way to political advancement

5. Plebeian Assembly/Comitia Tributa Involved in justice, lawmaking, debating wars Votes by tribe Led by tribunes of the people (initially 2, later 5, then 10), elected by assembly and required to defend plebeians Tribunes can veto senate legislation, and each other Tribunes sacrosanct, but must be available

6. Knights (Equites/Equestrian Order) Non-senatorial, wealthy Romans, mostly merchants and businessmen From late 2nd c. BC controlling law courts through jury service

7. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

8. Member of Knightly class. Initially lawyer Cursus honorum: Quaestor  Aedile  Praetor  Consul  Censor 75 BC Cicero elected quaestor (  senator) 70 BC Cicero prosecutes Verres on behalf of citizens of Sicily 70 BC Cicero elected aedile for 69 BC

9. Quaestors 20, minimum age 30 Magistrates i/c public revenues (e.g. public treasury in Rome, aiding provincial governors, plunder, pay for soldiers) (Cicero assigned to aid governor of Sicily)

10. Aediles Magistrates overseeing repairs to temples and other public buildings, regulating markets and games, public sanitation 4 - 2 plebeians, 2 patricians (curule aediles) Opportunity to gain political support through public displays Min. age 37

11. 67 BC Cicero elected praetor Novus Homo (New Man) 63 BC Cicero beats Cataline to the position of consul

12. Praetors Magistrates administering justice in Rome, rank below consuls 8, min. age 40, and may only be elected at least 8 years after being elected quaestor Each praetor assigned certain types of cases Ex-praetors (propraetors) eligible to be provincial governors Each assisted by 6 lictors

13. Censors Elected for 6 (or 18) months every 5 years 2, drawn from proconsuls Take census of citizens and property Assemble list of senators. May alter citizen’s class, remove senators, deprive citizens of votes or tribal membership Guardians of public morals

14. Changes made by Augustus Held consulship from 27-23 BC, but then resigned. By then had… Reduced senate from 1000 to 800 (600 by 13 BC) Reinforced age limits/number of offices, incl. military service and wealth requirements for quaestors

15. Changes made by Augustus Held consulship from 27-23 BC, but then resigned. By then had… Required Knights to fulfill lower magistracies before becoming quaestors Lowered min. age of praetor to 32, consul to 35

16. Changes made by Augustus Held consulship from 27-23 BC, but then resigned. By then had… Opened membership of senate and equestrian order to some wider communities Received titles Augustus and princeps, and provinces and armies

17. Changes made by Augustus Held consulship from 27-23 BC, but then resigned. By then had… Restored control of finances to senate, and made it supreme court Freed senate from need for approval from plebeian assembly

18. Changes made by Augustus 23 BC Augustus becomes tribune for life (may convene senate, present legislation to plebeian assembly and motions in writing to senate, appoint/dismiss officials) Increases no. of praetors to 12 (adds 2 for treasury), gives 2 provinces to senate, re-organises it Gradually gains more consular powers