The First Settlement -- Magistrates & Senate

Question 1

Why didn’t Augustus ignore the senate?

Answer 1

• needed to share the work of administering a huge empire
• didn’t want to end up like his father
• didn’t want any civil wars coming from the senate

Question 2

How did Augustus show his support for the senate?

Answer 2

• became censor to restore senate its dignity
• allow competition for top positions

Question 3

What did a consul do? How often were they elected? What happened after their time was up? How many were there?

Answer 3

• managed affairs of Senate and armies
• called Senate and assemblies
• conducted elections
• generals in war times
• annually
• became proconsul and governed a province
• 2

Question 4

What did a praetor do? How many were there?

Answer 4

• dealt with legal matters in the courts
• sent out to govern provinces as propraetors later
• Praetor Erbanus – in charge of affairs of Rome
• 8

Question 5

What did an Aedile do? How many were there?

Answer 5

• looked after markets, streets, public buildings
• organised and paid for public games
• looked after corn supply
• 4

Question 6

What did a quaestor do? How many were there?

Answer 6

• financial administrators
• went with proconsul to look after financial business
• 20

Question 7

What did a censor do? How many were there? When were they elected?

Answer 7

• revised Senate list
• removed unworthy members and enrolled new ones
• responsible for contracts for public works and tax collection
• 2
• every 5 years

Question 8

What power did a dictator have? When were they elected? How long did they rule for?

Answer 8

• power of life and death over everyone
• in times of crisis
• six months officially

Question 9

What power did a tribune of the plebs have?

Answer 9

• veto
• couldn’t be harmed
• call assembly and put forth laws
• come to aid of any Plebeian
• entered senate at end of year

Question 10

How did Augustus change the role/function/powers of the senate? Who tells us this?

Answer 10

• Augustus kicked out or shamed into leaving some senators, but let them keep their “distinctive dress”
• each senator must offer incense and wine in the temple where the meeting was held
• meetings shouldn’t be held more than twice a month
• in September and October, those who should attend are to be drawn by lot
• proceedings of the senate should not be published
• magistrates not sent to provinces immediately after laying down office
• Suetonius

Question 11

How did Augustus change the role/functions/powers of consuls?

Answer 11

• proconsuls got a fixed sum for mules and tents, but state was charged whenever previously
• wanted 2 consuls with him when he was elected, but this was rejected
• Suetonius

Question 12

How did Augustus change the role/functions/powers of quaestors?

Answer 12

• management of public treasury transferred to praetors or ex-praetors
• centumviral court summoned by Board of Ten instead of ex-quaestors
• Suetonius

Question 13

How did Augustus change the role/functions/powers of praetors?

Answer 13

• management of public treasury transferred to praetors or ex-praetors from quaestors
• increased number
• Suetonius