Breakdown Of The Roman Republican Government After

287Bc Essay, Research Paper

Senate- The Senate was the true seat of power in Rome. Senators

were appointed for life, and voting was done by seniority. The Senators

were responsible for ratifying laws which the general assemblies had

passed, along with providing government appointments and

appropriating government funds. The Senate also voted on other

issues which concerned the city, and provided guidance. Because they

held their positions for life, the Senators held immense power, and the

other government leaders would pretty much do as they willed.

Consuls- The Romans elected two consuls as chief executives every

year who each had the ability to veto the other. These consuls were the

commanders of the army, acted as judges, and summoned and

proposed bills to the comitia centuriata.

Comitia Centuriata- The comitia centuriata was a popular assembly

which catered to the interested of the wealthy. Its system of voting

revolved around a class structure where the wealthiest of citizens

constituted a near majority, and the poorer classes rarely got an actual

vote. It had the power to appoint magistrates and pass legislation. the

comitia also served a judicial purpose.

Plebian Council- The Plebian council was also a council dominated by

wealthy landowners. The voting of the council was set up in tribes that

were divvied into city and rural, and the votes were distributed so that

the tribes of large landowners were given a much larger vote (31) than

there fellow citizens in the city (4). The Plebian council had the ability to

pass legislation, elect magistrates, and serve in judicial matters.

Censors-There were two censors who were elected every five years by

the comitia centuriata, and served for 18 months. They were

responsible for determining the tax liability, military eligibility, and tribe

assignments of the people. They could also add or remove people from

the Senate, and arrange public contracts and spend public funds.

Praetors- There were 2 or more praetors, and the office was open to

patricians. One praetor was in charge of judicial matters inside the city.

The other praetors were in charge of maintaining Roman authority in

conquered lands.

The Plebian Aedileship- There were two Aediles. They were in charge

of things which would effect the daily life of an average citizen, such as

running the plebian?s treasury, policing the markets, administering

weights and measures, and monitoring food and water supplies.

Plebian Tribal Council- The tribal council reorganized the voting in the

Plebian council. It gave one vote to each tribe since not all farmers

could get into town to vote. This council was still slanted to the wealthy

aristocratic land owners.

Law of 12 Tables- The laws on the 12 tables, were codifications of the

common laws existing around 450 BC They were written down on the

tables by the decemvirs. The laws essentially gave in writing equality to

all citizens under the law.

Quaestors- There were four Quaestors. Two of the four Quaestors remained in

the city and kept up the public treasury and went after tax offenders. The other

two Quaestors followed the consuls to to the battlefield and were in charge of the

supplies and the soldiers pay.