Roman Republic Officials: Key Magistracies Explained
Key Magistracies of the Roman Republic
Tribune of the Plebs
The Tribunate of the Plebs was a crucial magistracy representing the plebeians against the patricians. Tribunes held significant power, including the right to veto actions harmful to the plebeians.
Curule Aediles
The office of the Curule Aediles (initially patrician, later open to plebeians) was likely created by the Leges Liciniae Sextiae in 367 BC, alongside the existing Plebeian Aediles. The term ‘Curule’ signifies their right to sit on the sella curulis, an ivory chair denoting high office. Aediles performed functions similar to modern municipal administrators:
- Overseeing public works (roads, buildings, markets)
- Managing the city’s food supply (cura annonae)
- Organizing public games (cura ludorum)
- Maintaining public order
Their jurisdiction, detailed in the Aedilician Edict, was particularly relevant for market disputes, especially concerning hidden defects in items sold, such as slaves or livestock.
Quaestors
Quaestors initially served as assistants to higher magistrates, lacking imperium (command authority). Their primary role was managing the state treasury (aerarium populi Romani). Elected annually by the Tribal Assembly (Comitia Tributa), their numbers grew over time.
Starting with two in the 5th century BC, more were added, including assistants to the Consuls for military finances. Urban Quaestors handled treasury management and assisted the Senate with tax collection. The number eventually increased to twenty by the late Republic.
These financial Quaestors differed from the earlier quaestores parricidii, who investigated capital crimes like murder.
Censors
Though tradition links the census to King Servius Tullius, the magistracy of the Censor was formally established in 443 BC. Initially a lesser office, it gained enormous prestige, overseeing public morality (cura morum) and citizen rolls.
Censors were elected every five years by the Centuriate Assembly (Comitia Centuriata) for an 18-month term. Typically held by ex-Consuls, it was the culmination of a political career. Their main task was the census: each head of household (paterfamilias) declared his family and property, determining his assignment to voting centuries and tribes, taxation status, and military eligibility.
Censors could issue a moral judgment (nota censoria) on a citizen’s conduct. An unfavorable nota, requiring both Censors’ agreement, could lead to demotion in civic status or expulsion from the Senate. Following the census, a purification ritual (lustrum) was performed.
Other Censor duties included:
- Managing state assets (leasing or selling)
- Awarding public contracts
- Supervising state finances