THE EARLY REPUBLIC BICAMERAL The Roman senate is

THE EARLY REPUBLIC

BICAMERAL? • The Roman senate is very well known. They were also referred to as patres, and were all of the highest social order. • There was also the Concilium Plebis or the council of the people. This was not necessarily the same as a bicameral parliament, but it is the origin of it (cf. Great Britain).

TWO CONSULS (CONSULES) REPLACED THE KING • They held office for one year and had equal power. • They held less sovereignty than the king but a lot nevertheless (especially if they work together). • They have authority over the military, some punitive measures, and delegation of punitive measures.

CENSORS (CENSORES) • These men were elected every five years from among the ex-consuls. • They held office for 18 months. • They conducted the census as can be seen by the name. • They oversaw the dispersion of state funds. • They held authority over public morality (censorship).

PRAETORS (PRAETORES) • These officials performed a number of different duties over time. • These include military leadership, judiciary power, governorship in the provinces. • According to Cicero, Praetoria Potestas was first held by the Consuls. • According to Livy, Praetorship was first established to relieve Consuls of judiciary duties. • Each of the praetores were assigned their respective courts by drawing straws.

QUAESTORS (QUAESTORES) • They were financial officers that oversaw the treasury and could work under any number of other officials. • They could be elected from the Patricians or Plebians, and election could guarantee entrance into the senate. • Quaestor is connected to the verb quaero, meaning to seek or gain, and quaestus, meaning gain or profit.

AEDILES (AEDILES) • They often dealt with matters involving financial disputes or other judiciary matters. • They also were in charge of city management (building maintenance and city ordinances) and the holding of public festivals and games. • They were also a connection between the classes as half were from the Patricians and half were from the Plebians. • Derived from aes, aedis.

TRIBUNES (TRIBUNI) • The name derives from tribus or tribe. • There were 10 of them all elected from the common people, the plebs. Patricians were barred from the Tribunate. • They had veto power over any legislation, could call senate meetings, and propose laws. • They only had authority at Rome. • There were periods in which there were no Consuls, but only Tribunes with consular authority. • Roman emperors as members of the upper class could not be called tribunes, but they did all assume tribunal authority.

CURSUS HONORUM • • • Military Service (military tribune) Quaestor Aedile Praetor Consul

DICTATOR/MAGISTER POPULI • This office appears to have been created almost as early as the consuls. It allowed the Romans in crises to consolidate power until the emergency was over. • This did not replace the consuls, but temporarily superseded them. • They also had the power to delegate offices such as Magister Equitum. DIXIT

CONFLICT of ORDERS • With the nobles/patricians on top of the situation, the common people began to have grievances. A conflict came to head with the people in an organized body. • The nobles tended to stick to their ties in Etruria and Latium; the plebs were building connections with Magna Graecia, picking up on ideas of political reform.

CONFLICT of ORDERS • Very early conflict between classes led to the creation of the tribunes. • Aediles became Plebian officers and assistants to the Tribunes. • The patricians power was limited, just the same way as Athenian and Spartan government had developed as ways of limiting individual power.