[26] Eventually, he was given powers that, under the republic, had been reserved for the Roman Senate and the Roman assemblies including the right to declare war, to ratify treaties, and to negotiate with foreign leaders. During this period, the dictator's power over the Roman government was absolute, as they were not checked by any institution or magistrate. In times of emergency (military or otherwise), a Roman dictator (magister populi or "Master of the Nation") was appointed for a six-month term. In practice, he had no real restrictions on his power. While in the city of Rome, the consul was the head of the Roman government. [17] Consuls had supreme power in both civil and military matters, which was due, in part, to the fact that they held the highest ordinary grade of imperium (command) powers. [19] Another magistrate, the Censor, conducted a census, during which time they could appoint people to the senate. Always a patrician. During the period of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman King was the principal executive magistrate. [33] The plebeian aedile functioned as the tribune's assistant, and often performed similar duties as did the curule aediles (discussed above). [32] The treasury was a repository for documents, as well as for money. Since this did create problems for some magistrates (in particular, consuls and praetors), these magistrates occasionally had their imperium "prorogued" (prorogare), which allowed them to retain the powers of the office as a Promagistrate. Tribunes, by virtue of their sacrosanctity as the representatives of the people, could veto anything or anyone. [14], Once a magistrate's annual term in office expired, he had to wait ten years before serving in that office again. The Master of the Horse was also technically a magistrate, since he was nominated by the dictator. [11] During the interregnum, the senate elected a senator to the office of Interrex[12] to facilitate the election of a new king. [3] Dictators (a temporary position for emergencies) had the highest level of power. [32] The quaestors could only issue public money for a particular purpose if they were authorized to do so by the senate. A magistrate was required to look for omens while presiding over a legislative or senate meeting, and while preparing for a war. The last ordinary dictator was appointed in 202 BC. During the period of the Roman Kingdom, the King of Rome was the principal executive magistrate. [6] In theory at least, the tribunician powers (which were similar to those of the plebeian tribunes under the old republic) gave the emperor authority over Rome's civil government, while the proconsular powers (similar to those of military governors, or proconsuls, under the old republic) gave him authority over the Roman army. By definition, plebeian tribunes and plebeian aediles were technically not magistrates[4] since they were elected only by the plebeians. Censeurs (Rome) Economie politique -- Rome -- Histoire. The two most significant components to an emperor's imperium were the "tribunician powers" (potestas tribunicia) and the "proconsular powers" (imperium proconsulare). While components of public administration were delegated to other magistrates, the management of the government was under the ultimate authority of the consul. In time, however, the differences between the plebeian aediles and the curule aediles disappeared. The consul of the Roman Republic was the highest ranking ordinary magistrate. The consuls presided over the Roman Senate and the Roman assemblies, and had the ultimate responsibility to enforce policies and laws enacted by both institutions. : first plebeian in 366 B.C. [18], The praetors administered civil law and commanded provincial armies,[20] and, eventually, began to act as chief judges over the courts. Aediles had wide-ranging powers over day-to-day affairs inside the city of Rome, and over the maintenance of public order. Imperial Consuls could preside over the senate, could act as judges in certain criminal trials, and had control over public games and shows. This is why, for example, each consul was accompanied by twelve lictors outside the pomerium or six inside, whereas the dictator (as the Roman King before him) was accompanied by twenty four lictors outside the pomerium or twelve inside. The powers of an emperor (his imperium) existed, in theory at least, by virtue of his legal standing. The executive magistrates of the Roman Empire were elected individuals of the ancient Roman Empire. [45] It declared "videant consules ne res publica detrimenti capiat" ("let the consuls see to it that the state suffer no harm") which, in effect, vested the consuls with dictatorial powers. Their actions could not be vetoed by any magistrate other than a plebeian tribune, or a fellow censor. Aufsatzsammlung; Ancient Roman History The Roman magistrates were elected officials of the Roman Republic. [43] Often, the dictator functioned principally as the master of the infantry (and thus the legions), while the Master of the Horse (as the name implies) functioned as the master of the cavalry. Such duties included the authority to regulate public morality (Censorship) and to conduct a census. [12] The check on the magistrate's power of Coercion was Provocatio, which was an early form of due process (habeas corpus). This ranking, however, was solely a result of their prestige, rather than any real power they had. While these distinctions were clearly defined during the early empire, eventually they were lost, and the emperor's powers became less constitutional and more monarchical.