AR226 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Collegiality, Imperium, Proletariat
8 Feb 2016
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Roman constitution consisted of spqr; senatus populisque romanus: the senate and the roman people. Imperium adapted to collegial rule, so that more that one person shared powers of office and that each office was re-elected annually so that no one person could become too powerful. 2 men elected annually by comitia centuriata/ centuriate assembly. Inherited all the trappings of former kings: wore the purple bordered togas; praetexta. Eponymous; roman year named after the consul. Annual and collegial as a check; a consul could veto the decision of the other. Could be elected more than once, but with space in between. Position began as a way to deal with military and domestic crises. Appointed by the consul to act as the head of state. Given imperium by law pass in the curiate assembly. Appointed a 2nd in command, the leader of the cavalry. Continued to be an advisory body to the consuls.
