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
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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
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Elected by comitia populi tributa
Financial officer
Age 31
20 (Sulla’s reform)
Enrolled in Senate after term
Aedile
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Aedes (temple)
Elected by concilium plebis (plebeian - 2)
Elected by comitia tributa (curule/patrician - 2)
Age 36
Duties:
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Public buildings
Archives
Streets
Traffic
Water supply
Markets
Weights & Measures
Grain supply
Exact fines
Public games
Public order
Assist Tribunes
Tribune of the Plebs
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Open only to plebeians
Elected by concilium plebis
Defend lives & property of plebeians
Summon plebs to Assembly
Veto
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laws
Elections
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Senatus consultum
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NOT Interrex or dictator
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287 BC: plebiscite binding on all citizens
Can hold office ONLY once
10 elected annually
Imperium
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Prerogative of higher office (praetor &
above)
Lictores
Auspices
Command army
Life & death
Immunity from lawsuits
Lictores
Praetor
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Prae-ire
Age 39
8 elected annually
Elected by comitia centuriata
6 lictors
Judicial duties
Summon senate
Supervise defense of Rome
Govern province after term
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Imperium
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Consul
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Age 42
2 elected annually
Elected by comitia centuriata
Enter office on March 15
367 BC: Licinium plebiscite
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1 pleb elected annually
12 lictors
Lead armies
Direct Foreign Policy
Govern province after term
Eponymous
Occasional Magistrates
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Censor
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Every 5 years
18 month term
Duties:
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Dictator
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Review rolls of senate
Enforce morality at Rome
Constitutional office
Times of emergency
6 month term
Interrex
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When elections cannot be held
Restore order
5 day term
Assemblies
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Comitia
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Concilium
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Assembly of the Roman people summoned in
groups
Part of the people are summoned
Plebs are summoned
Contio
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All of the people are summoned
Assemblies
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Comitia Curiata
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30 curiae
Confirm appointments of magistrates
Witness installation of priests
Confer imperium on praetors & consuls
Comitia Centuriata
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Summoned by magistrate with imperium
Enact laws
Elect praetors, consuls, censors
Declare war and peace
Inflict death penalty
Meet in Campus Martius in military order
Assemblies
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Comitia Plebis tributa
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Summoned by praetor, consul, tribune of plebs
Meet in Forum
Elect tribunes of plebs & plebeian aediles
Trials for non-capital offences
plebiscites
Comitia populi tributa
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Convoked by praetor or consul
Elect quaestors
Elect curule aediles
Elect military tribunes
Laws
Minor trials
Senatorial
Perks
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Latus clavus
Special shoes
Senatorial Perks
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Curule Chair
Senate: Membership
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Open to ex-quaestors and above
100,000 sesterces or above
No freedmen
No Sons of freedmen
No morally depraved men
No petty industrialists
Senate: term
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Serve for life
Removed by censor
Can be reinstated
Senate: Duties
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Advise magistrates
Ratify deliberations of the people
Invalidate laws
Judge criminal and civil cases
Advise
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internal and foreign policy
Finance
Religion
legislation
Criticize:
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Conduct of war
Peace treaties
Senate: Duties
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Treasury
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Supervise revenue & expenditures
Fix levies
Determine rate of tribute
Regulate coinage
Elect interrex
Nominate dictator
Choose and extend commissions
Senate: Meetings
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Summoned by
magistrate with
imperium
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Summoned by tribune
Meet in consecrated
place
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curia
Artists view of Senate proceedings
Who’s Who in the Senate
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Optimates-Sulla,
Cicero, Cato Pompey(
occasionally)
Populares Gracchi
Brothers, Marius,
Caesar
Roman Constitution
Separation of Powers:
Polybius 6.11-18
Balance of Powers
Assemblies
democracy
elections
Senate
oligarchy
Consuls
monarchy
money
defense
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
Patronii Coloniae
Order of Decurions
(Senate)Wealthy Landowners
Expected to spend
money on community
Magistrates
Assembly-2 Aediles
for admin
Duumviri for
justice and
Financial
Duumviri
Censors-nominate
new decurions
Peoples Assembly
( Comitium-all
enfranchised males)
Quinquinnaleselected every
five years
Roman Values
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Mos Maiorum
Gratia
Amicitae
Nobilitas
Dignitas
Gravitas
Fides
Pietas
Find the meanings of
these terms.
Elections
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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.
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.
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Although bribery was technically illegal it went on all
the time.
This was possible because of the way society was
structured.
The Client-Patron system
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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.
THE CLIENT PATRON SYSTEM
SENATORS
EQUITES
Tax collectors, merchants, traders (not just citizens)
wealthy CITIZENS
Merchants
Middle class CITIZENS
Shop keepers
Lower class CITIZENS
Tradesmen
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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.
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.