Roman magistrate

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Gaius Gracchus Tribune of the People

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Busto de Augusto (26766361086)

Roman magistrates were elected officials in Ancient Rome. During the period of the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the King of Rome was the principal executive magistrate. His power, in practice, was absolute. He was the chief priest, lawgiver, judge, and the sole commander of the army. When the Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC, the powers that had been vested in the king were distributed amongst elected officials known as magistrates. There were two types of Roman magistrates: ordinary and extraordinary. Ordinary magistrates included Consuls, Praetors, Aediles, Quaestors, and Tribunes of the Plebs. Extraordinary magistrates included the Dictator and the Master of the Horse.

Ordinary Magistrates

The highest positions in the republic were held by the Consuls and Praetors, who were primarily responsible for the administration of justice and the command of the army. Consuls were the highest ranking of the ordinary magistrates. Each year, two consuls were elected together to serve for a one-year term. The Praetors were responsible for civil law and could command armies. Aediles were in charge of public buildings, games, and the grain supply. Quaestors were responsible for public finance. Lastly, the Tribunes of the Plebs were unique in that they were the only magistrates who had the power to veto the decisions of the Senate and other magistrates, protecting the interests of the plebeians.

Extraordinary Magistrates

In times of emergency, a Dictator could be appointed for a term of six months. The Dictator had absolute power over the state but was expected to resign his office once the crisis was resolved. The Master of the Horse was a subordinate to the Dictator and was in charge of the cavalry.

Election and Powers

Magistrates were elected by the Centuriate Assembly and the Tribal Assembly. The power of Roman magistrates was symbolized by the fasces, a bundle of rods with an axe, carried by the lictors who attended high-ranking magistrates. The number of lictors was an indicator of a magistrate's power. For example, Consuls were accompanied by twelve lictors, while Praetors had six. Magistrates also had the power of imperium, which gave them the authority to command the army and to interpret and execute the law.

Limitations

The power of the magistrates was limited by the principle of collegiality, meaning that each office was held by at least two people at the same time, preventing any single individual from holding too much power. Additionally, the term of office was limited to one year, and the concept of provocatio allowed citizens to appeal a magistrate's decision to the Roman Assembly.

Legacy

The system of Roman magistracy provided a model of governance that influenced the development of democratic institutions in the Western world. The balance of power among different offices and the mechanisms for accountability and checks on power are concepts that have endured in modern systems of government.