Customs: Roman Government

Question 1

What was the cursus honorum?

Answer 1

“course of honors”; the steps a Roman would take in their political career

Question 2

What was the order of the cursus honorum?

Answer 2

Start as quaestor, then praetor, then consul

Question 3

What Roman office acted as commander of military forces and presided over meetings of the Senate?

Answer 3

Consul

Question 4

How many consuls were elected annually?

Answer 4

2

Question 5

What Roman office acted as a supreme civil judge?

Answer 5

Praetor

Question 6

How many praetors were elected annually?

Answer 6

8

Question 7

What Roman office was primarily in charge of the treasury?

Answer 7

Quaestor

Question 8

What Roman office would count and keep a register of all citizens and controlled public morals?

Answer 8

Censors

Question 9

How often were censors elected?
How long did a censor serve?

Answer 9

Elected every 5 years
Would serve for 18 months

Question 10

What Roman office would possess supreme military and judicial authority in times of crisis?

Answer 10

Dictator

Question 11

Which assembly was the oldest and met only as a formality?

Answer 11

comitia curiata

Question 12

suo anno

Answer 12

refers to someone who completed the cursus honorum in their first year of eligibility

Question 13

curia

Answer 13

senate house

Question 14

What bodyguards would carry fasces

Answer 14

lictors

Question 15

What bundle of rods did the lictors hold as a symbol of power?

Answer 15

fasces

Question 16

What Roman office was in charge of public games, festivals, and the maintenance of buildings?

Answer 16

Aedile

Question 17

Which assembly elected the plebeian offices?

Answer 17

concilium plebis

Question 18

praetor peregrinus

Answer 18

dealt with foreign affairs

Question 19

What Roman office could veto any act passed by the Roman government and was created to speak for the Plebeians?

Answer 19

Tribune

Question 20

Which assembly elected major offices (consul, praetor, quaestor, censor)?

Answer 20

comitia centuriata

Question 21

For how long would a dictator (typically) serve if chosen by the senate?

Answer 21

6 months

Question 22

proconsul

Answer 22

governor of a province

Question 23

What group would choose a dictator?

Answer 23

The senate

Question 24

What Roman priest oversaw the entire religion of the state?

Answer 24

Pontifex Maximus

Question 25

How many lictors would accompany a praetor?

Answer 25

6

Question 26

praetor urbanus

Answer 26

“city praetor”; sheriff

Question 27

novus homo

Answer 27

first member of his family to hold office

Question 28

How many lictors would accompany a consul?

Answer 28

12

Question 29

consul suffectus

Answer 29

consul chosen to replace another consul mid-term

Question 30

How many lictors would accompany a dictator?

Answer 30

24

Question 31

magister equitum

Answer 31

“master of the cavalry”; dictator’s assistant

Question 32

Which assembly elected minor offices (quaestor, curule aedile, pontifex maximus)?

Answer 32

comitia tributa