This document provides an overview of citizenship and the political career path in ancient Rome. It describes the different classes of citizens - patricians, plebeians, equites, and nobles. Non-citizens included women, slaves, and foreigners. The cursus honorum, or sequential political offices, are outlined starting with quaestor and advancing to consul. Key details are provided about eligibility requirements and responsibilities for each office. Military tribunes and plebeian tribunes are also discussed. The Roman assemblies, including the senate, comitia curiata, comitia centuriata, comitia tributa, and concilium plebis are summarized. Finally, the document describes the

1. Chapter 13
Everyday Statesman

2. Focus
 In this presentation you will learn about the
types of citizens, the path for a successful
political career and the role of the Senate.
 Key Terms
Patrician, Plebeian, Equites
Cursus Honorum: Quaestor, Aedile, Praetor,
Consul

3. SPQR
Citizens
 Patricians
 Plebeians
 Nobles
 Equites (Knights)
Non Citizens
• Women
• Slaves
• Foreigners
Citizens were given the right
to vote and the duty of
military service.

4. Citizens
Patricians
 The wealthiest
class from
established
families
Plebeians
• Everyone else!
EQUITES
 Wealthy plebeians
 Originated from the
cavalry
 businessmen
 Must have property
worth 400,000
sesterces
NOBLES
 A Later title used to
distinguish the rich
from the poor
 Included the
Patricians and the
Equites

5. Cursus Honorum
• Questor
• **Aedile
• *Praetor
• *Consul
*curule magistrates which meant they were
able to sit in a special chair sella curulis
which was an ivory folding stool
**Only the 2 patrician aediles were curule
Curule

6. Quaestor
 sought at the ages of 27-30
 Term = 1 year
 There were several Quaestors with the number increasing
along with the size of the empire
 Usually sought often 10 years in the military and having
been a military or plebeian tribune
 Was the “Treasurer”
 Collected the taxes and oversaw expenditures

7. Aedile
• sought 2 years after Questor
• Term = 1 year
• Originally were 2 plebeians but 2 patricians were added
• Oversaw public works including public buildings(like temples),
roads, markets, the grain dole and games
• An optional but favorable office since it allowed the person to
win support through providing lavish games.

8. Praetor
 sought 2 years after Aedile
 were in their 30’s
 Term = 1 year
 Had ‘imperium’ or supreme authority, including
the ability to apply/execute the death penalty
 2 types: praetor urbanus; praetor peregrinus
 Number of Praetors grew along with empire
 Were the supreme civil judges
 Urbanus: oversaw suits between citizens
 Peregrinus: oversaw suits involving foreigners
 Propraetor served in a province ‘in place of' the
praetor

9. Consul
• sought 2 years after Praetor
• were at least 42
• Term = 1 year
• Had ‘imperium’ or supreme authority, including the
ability to apply/execute the death penalty
• Re-election only after 10 years
• There were 2 so that no one man could have all the
power
• Were military commanders
• Presided over the senate
• Proconsul served in a province ‘in place of' the consul
Lucius Junius Brutus
the 1st
consul

10. Tribunes
• Military Tribune
– Elected by his legion
– Sought after a minimum of 5
years of service
• Plebeian Tribune aka: Tribune
of the plebs
– Elected by the Concilium Plebis
– Protected the plebeians
– Held the power of veto and
could stop legislation or the
games or anything else that
might oppress a plebeian.

11. Dictator
• was appointed only in time of
emergency
• had supreme control and imperium
• was a 6 month term
• the other magistrates remained in office
but the dictator had the ultimate power
to lead the army and decide judicial
matters
• Cincinnatus was an ideal dictator who
called upon in a time of crisis, lead Rome
to safety and then willingly gave up the
power to go back to work on his farm
Statue of Cincinatus
in Ohio

12. Censors
• Censor
– Only used in times of the census (every 5 years)
– Appointed by comitia centuriata from former
consuls
– determined a citizen’s status (patrician, pleb, etc)

13. Roman Assemblies
• Senate
• Comitia Curiata
• Comitia Centuriata
• Comitia Tributa
• Concilium Plebis

14. Senate
• Members: 100, 300, 600 (80BC), 900 (reform of Julius
Caesar)
• Not elected; entry was given for holding a high office (one
on the cursus honorm) or birth and for having property
worth 1,000,000 sesterces
• Served as advisors to magistrates
• Made decrees not laws
• Sent “bills” to various comitia for voting
• Expelled only for misconduct

15. Comitia Curiata
 Based on the Curiae which was the
organization of the original 3 tribes
 Important earlier on in Rome’s History
 Met only formally on occasion to bestow
imperium on consuls and praetors

16. Comitia Centuriata
 Based on the centuries (voting units)
 Admission to unit was based on your ability to
provide equipment for military service
 The wealthier centuries had more votes
 Decided on military matters (war and peace)
 Elected Praetors and Consul
 Heard appeals of capital cases (death penalty)
 Met on the
Campus
Martius

17. Comitia Tributa
• Based on 35 tribes
• Decided on bills sent by magistrates
• Elected Quaestors and Aediles
• Heard appeals of non-capital cases
• Met in the Roman Forum (pictured below)

18. Concilium Plebis
• Based on 35 tribes
• Plebeians Only!
• Elected Plebeian Tribunes and Aediles
• after 287BC its resolutions became laws for
all known as plebiscita
• Met in the Roman forum (pictured below)

19. Assignment
Now you will need to give a campaign speech of your own. You
will need to give a speech in the voice board. This is like a
discussion board but it allows you the record your post and
response. You can also type your post.
Your speech should include:
•An introduction of your self
•What office you are seeking
•What experience/previous positions held
•What you will do for Rome, given the parameters of the office
you are seeking
•Don’t forget “vote” by responding to a classmate’s post. You
would want to state why you are voting (or not) for the
person...based on their speech.