Constitution of the Roman Republic Keywords

aedile

magistrate responsible for games and public services in the city of Rome

amicitia

a system of family alliances established to consolidate and further the success of influential Romans

auctoritas

the prestige and influence that a Roman magistrate held

boni

men considered to be ideal statesemen

characteristics of boni

well educated, traditional, patriotic, experienced in politics, responsible

censor

officials elected by the comitia centuriata every 18 months responsible for the census and the political health of the state

clients

citizens bound by loyalty to a wealthy patron to support him in is public interests in return for support and resources

concordia ordinum

lit. “agreement of the orders”, a political ideal in which the original structures of the Republic’s constitution were encouraged to flourish and continue, with the aristocracy and the equites united for the common good  

consul

one of the two highest magistrates who presided over the Senate and wielded imperium 

cum dignitate otium

lit. “leisure with prestige”, used by Cicero to refer to an absolute status quo

cursus honorum

the political ladder of elected magistrates

dictator

a magistrate appointed in periods of military crisis, nominated by a consul after a senatus consultum for six months only

dignitas

dignity or prestige, associated with social, religious, and political standing

dominatio

a form of autocracy

equites

a rank in the Roman class system which grew in wealth and status through commerce and finance

fasces

bundle of rods and axes; the insignia of senior Roman magistrates, carried by his lictors

governor

an ex-praetor or ex-consul responsible for the running, safety, and taxation of a province; wielded imperium

imperium

the official power vested in a consul or praetor which allowed him to command legions

libertas 

the political freedom of citizens 

nobiles

families with a consul in their ancestry

novus homo

lit. “new man”, a man who had become consul with no history of the consulship in his family

optimates

a faction of aristocratic families devoted to preserving the political and social status quo

patricians

aristocratic families who could trace their ancestry to the first 100 senators appointed by Romulus

plebeians

non-patrician citizens; gained significant power during the Conflict of the Orders

populares

senatorial families who aimed to secure power by appealing to the people

praetor

magistrate presiding over the law-courts in Rome; wielded imperium

provincia

lit. “province”, the sphere in which a magistrate was expected to exercise his imperium; normally a geographical area but sometimes a specific task

quaestor

most junior magistrate, responsible for the state treasury

quaestiones 

permanent law-courts presided over by a praetor, dealing with various crimes 

res publica

lit. “public affairs”, the Roman term for their state

rostra

an elevated platform in the Forum from which speakers addressed an assembly

senatus consultum ultimum

a senatorial decree passed in times of crisis suspending the normal restrictions on the power of consuls

Senatus Populusque Romanus

lit. “Senate and People of Rome”, official label/motto of the Roman Republic

Senate

advisory assembly of about 600, central to the government of the republic

Senators

the highest citizen class. who were members of the Senate

comitia tributa

public assembly organised into the 35 traditional tribes of Rome, responsible for electing the curile aediles and the quaestors

concilium plebis

public assembly of plebeians only organised into the 35 traditional tribes of Rome, responsible for electing the plebeian aediles and the tribunes of the plebs

tribune of the plebs

magistrates elected from the plebeian populace to act as a check on the Senate

triumph

ritual procession through the streets of Rome celebrating military success, the highest public honour awarded to an imperator