Rome's Public Affairs Flashcards
Lapis Niger
Called the “black stone”; emerged in archaeology, refers to a king
Rex
Latin for king
Imperium
having authority/absolute power, called the shots
Previous monarchs’ roles
Chief judge, general, priest; no distinction between church and state, or civilian and military
Res Publica
“in the public interest”; people overthrew kings through a revolution and established this system of government
Rewards of a citizen
Requirement: males
Hold office, vote, have libertas
Libertas
liberty; citizens would be treated equally before the law
Pomerium
Boundary separating political activity area
Cannot bear arms
Can vote here in person
Mos maiorum
“custom of ancestors”; no written constitution, so they followed the traditional way of doing things
Struggle of the Orders
division of the citizens into Patricians and Plebeians
Secession of the Plagues
Plebeians say they will leave the state –> Patricians recognize the Plebs and create the Concilium Plebis
Tribune of the plebs
Ten leaders of the Concilium Plebis
Military Tribune
Negotiation during the Struggle of Orders; between 2 Patrician consuls or 3 military tribunes for either Patrician/Plebeian
Consuls
2 joint head of state
Imperium
Accompanied by lictors with fasces outside the Pomerium
Intercessio
If one consul dies…
suffect replaces until the end of the year
If two consuls die
interrex holds elections within 5 days
Intercession
Consuls can intercede and veto the other consul since they do not need to act as a unit.
Praetor
6, Serve judges in Rome; imperium, 4 would help supervise four providences, 2 would serve the judges
Difference between consuls and praetors
Could only exercise imperium in the sphere he had been assigned; praetor could not veto consul
Censors
2, at least one plebeian
In practice, only consuls
Jobs: take census (determine membership by wealth), put mark (nota) on behavior, draw up list of senators
Curule Aediles
2, oversee markets, entertainments; maintain public buildings
Quaestors
10, assistants to consuls; help supervise financial interests or provinces
Aediles of the plebs
when tribunes were the leaders of the plebs; responsibilities expanded to become Curule Aediles
Tribunes of the plebs
10
Sacrosanctitas - cannot touch them
Coercitio - have right to compel Roman citizen to obey their orders
Auxilium - can protect plebeian against harsh treatment from patricians
Presided over con cilium plebis –> laws passed called plebiscite
Intercession - veto action of any magistrate
Iustitium - can suspend state businesses until they considered a law
