Chapter 13
Everyday Statesman
Focus
 In this presentation you will learn about the
types of citizens, the path for a successful
political career and the role of the Senate.
 Key Terms
 Patrician, Plebeian, Equites
 Cursus Honorum: Quaestor, Aedile, Praetor,
Consul
SPQR
Citizens
 Patricians
 Plebeians
 Nobles
 Equites (Knights)
Citizens were given the right
to vote and the duty of
military service.
Non Citizens
• Women
• Slaves
• Foreigners
Citizens
Patricians
 The wealthiest
class from
established
families
NOBLES
 A Later title used to
distinguish the rich
from the poor
 Included the
Patricians and the
Equites
Plebeians
• Everyone else!
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EQUITES
Wealthy plebeians
Originated from the
cavalry
businessmen
Must have property
worth 400,000
sesterces
Cursus Honorum
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Questor
**Aedile
*Praetor
*Consul
Curule
*curule magistrates which meant they were
able to sit in a special chair sella curulis which
was an ivory folding stool
**Only the 2 patrician aediles were curule
Quaestor
 sought at the ages of 27-30
 Term = 1 year
 There were several Quaestors with the number increasing
along with the size of the empire
 Usually sought often 10 years in the military and having
been a military or plebeian tribune
 Was the “Treasurer”
 Collected the taxes and oversaw expenditures
Aedile
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sought 2 years after Questor
Term = 1 year
Originally were 2 plebeians but 2 patricians were added
Oversaw public works including public buildings(like temples),
roads, markets, the grain dole and games
• An optional but favorable office since it allowed the person to
win support through providing lavish games.
Praetor
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sought 2 years after Aedile
were in their 30’s
Term = 1 year
Had ‘imperium’ or supreme authority, including
the ability to apply/execute the death penalty
 2 types: praetor urbanus; praetor peregrinus
 Number of Praetors grew along with empire
 Were the supreme civil judges
 Urbanus: oversaw suits between citizens
 Peregrinus: oversaw suits involving foreigners
 Propraetor served in a province ‘in place of' the
praetor
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Consul
sought 2 years after Praetor
were at least 42
Term = 1 year
Had ‘imperium’ or supreme authority, including the
ability to apply/execute
the death penalty
Lucius Junius Brutus
Re-election only after 10 years
the 1 consul
There were 2 so that no one man could have all the
power
Were military commanders
Presided over the senate
Proconsul served in a province ‘in place of' the consul
st
Tribunes
• Military Tribune
– Elected by his legion
– Sought after a minimum of 5
years of service
• Plebeian Tribune aka: Tribune
of the plebs
– Elected by the Concilium Plebis
– Protected the plebeians
– Held the power of veto and
could stop legislation or the
games or anything else that
might oppress a plebeian.
Dictator
• was appointed only in time of
emergency
• had supreme control and imperium
• was a 6 month term
• the other magistrates remained in office
but the dictator had the ultimate power
to lead the army and decide judicial
matters
• Cincinnatus was an ideal dictator who
called upon in a time of crisis, lead Rome
to safety and then willingly gave up the
power to go back to work on his farm
Statue of Cincinatus
in Ohio
Censors
• Censor
– Only used in times of the census (every 5 years)
– Appointed by comitia centuriata from former
consuls
– determined a citizen’s status (patrician, pleb, etc)
Roman Assemblies
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Senate
Comitia Curiata
Comitia Centuriata
Comitia Tributa
Concilium Plebis
Senate
• Members: 100, 300, 600 (80BC), 900 (reform of Julius Caesar)
• Not elected; entry was given for holding a high office (one
on the cursus honorm) or birth and for having property
worth 1,000,000 sesterces
• Served as advisors to magistrates
• Made decrees not laws
• Sent “bills” to various
comitia for voting
• Expelled only for
misconduct
Comitia Curiata
 Based on the Curiae which was the
organization of the original 3 tribes
 Important earlier on in Rome’s History
 Met only formally on occasion to bestow
imperium on consuls and praetors
Comitia Centuriata
 Based on the centuries (voting units)
 Admission to unit was based on your ability to
provide equipment for military service
 The wealthier centuries had more votes
 Decided on military matters (war and peace)
 Elected Praetors and Consul
 Heard appeals of capital cases (death penalty)
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Met on the
Campus
Martius
Comitia Tributa
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Based on 35 tribes
Decided on bills sent by magistrates
Elected Quaestors and Aediles
Heard appeals of non-capital cases
Met in the Roman Forum (pictured below)
Concilium Plebis
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Based on 35 tribes
Plebeians Only!
Elected Plebeian Tribunes and Aediles
after 287BC its resolutions became laws for
all known as plebiscita
• Met in the Roman forum (pictured below)
Assignment
Now you will need to give a campaign speech of your own. You
will need to give a speech in the voice board. This is like a
discussion board but it allows you the record your post and
response. You can also type your post.
Your speech should include:
•An introduction of your self
•What office you are seeking
•What experience/previous positions held
•What you will do for Rome, given the parameters of the office
you are seeking
•Don’t forget “vote” by responding to a classmate’s post. You
would want to state why you are voting (or not) for the
person...based on their speech.