Members of the Republic:
Rome was most remembered for it's Senate besides it's military and warfare power. The Senate controlled the empire, the military and the citizens living there. And since Rome was such a large empire, there were several members required in the Senate. But the most commonly known members of the Senate are the Ordinary Magistrates. The Consul being the highest, Praetor the next, then Quaestor, Promagistrate, Aedile, Tribune, Censor and finally, Govenor. Each magistrate had an important role in the Senate, no matter how meaningless it may seem. Without a member of the Senate, it couldn't function properly. Each title was critical. But here, only a few will be talk about.
Consul:
Known as the highest political office in the Roman Republic, the consul had the right to veto power as the officials alternated every month. Even though each year, two consuls were elected together to serve one year and were considered the highest in political office, as the empire expanded, they had little or no power and authority. And with the supreme leader above them, it made it twice as difficult.
Considering there were two consuls that were elected together and had to right to veto each other's actions, you could only ask, "Did it ever lead to major fights?" Only a lot! Everyone had their different views too and if you were to add that to the fighting between the consuls, this could lead to some major fighting that would either end up being compromised or the subject left abandoned.
Since consuls were originally were called praetors meaning leader, they more or less referred to duties as commanders of legions. And they were also only patricians*, the wealthiest people living in Rome. It wasn't until the Lex Lincia Sextia allowed plebeians* to win the right to consulship. However, they still had republic responsibilities such as being invested with executive and judicial power. This lead to Rome's legal system but in 366 B.C. judicial power was soon switched over to Praetors, the next highest political office in the republic.
Considering there were two consuls that were elected together and had to right to veto each other's actions, you could only ask, "Did it ever lead to major fights?" Only a lot! Everyone had their different views too and if you were to add that to the fighting between the consuls, this could lead to some major fighting that would either end up being compromised or the subject left abandoned.
Since consuls were originally were called praetors meaning leader, they more or less referred to duties as commanders of legions. And they were also only patricians*, the wealthiest people living in Rome. It wasn't until the Lex Lincia Sextia allowed plebeians* to win the right to consulship. However, they still had republic responsibilities such as being invested with executive and judicial power. This lead to Rome's legal system but in 366 B.C. judicial power was soon switched over to Praetors, the next highest political office in the republic.
Praetors
Besides serving on the battlefield and leading his legion in a war or battle, Praetors also had important jobs in the republic such as having judicial power. The were suppose to oversee Roman justice and take charge when the consuls were temporarily gone. But at anytime, praetors could be called away from their duties to do anything like serve on the battlefield, raise troops or fix civil cases among citizens. Praetors played major roles within the Roman empire as they tried to keep as stable as possible.
Besides having judicial power later on in the Republic, Praetors also had potestas* and imperium*. So instead of solving matters independently and using their own judgement, the whole Senate did a majority vote on the matter. But only under senatorial announcement under the jurisdiction of SPQR or Senatus Populusque Romanus. This was also their logo for Rome.
Evidently, praetors were constantly busy in and outside the republic, serving their army or their citizens. Without them, Rome's citizens wouldn't have been maintained. And they were to support the consul and step up and taken action when needed.
Besides having judicial power later on in the Republic, Praetors also had potestas* and imperium*. So instead of solving matters independently and using their own judgement, the whole Senate did a majority vote on the matter. But only under senatorial announcement under the jurisdiction of SPQR or Senatus Populusque Romanus. This was also their logo for Rome.
Evidently, praetors were constantly busy in and outside the republic, serving their army or their citizens. Without them, Rome's citizens wouldn't have been maintained. And they were to support the consul and step up and taken action when needed.
Tribunes
The final magistrate I will talk about and I think is just as important as praetors and consuls is the tribunes. They were largely important to plebeians because tribunes defended their rights and protected the plebeian citizens themselves. But in the republic, these people had lower political offices. They were only two rankings above the lowest political office, the Govenor. However, they did have power when it came to agreeing and disagreeing in the Senate House. A tribune could veto actions that magistrates had taken but only to a limit. His power only stayed in effect as long as he stayed in Rome because it didn't affect any regional govenors. So if the tribune were to leave, his power could be taken out of effect and a new one could be placed.
Most think though that patricians could become a tribune of plebeians but according to history texts and records, it was legally impossible to do so. Patricians were high class citizens, the rich Romans while plebeians were just about the lowest class of citizens. But slaves were even lower class than plebeians. The reason for a patrician to become a tribune of plebeians was legally impossible was because unfair treatment could come up. Everybody knew in Rome that patricians treated the plebeians as lower status and didn't want anything to do with them. And they barely got any rights like patricians did. So when the tribune came into effect, plebeians could have some rights. Because if a patrician had been their tribune, well, they could veto their rights and leave them. Tribunes were definitely important in Rome.
Most think though that patricians could become a tribune of plebeians but according to history texts and records, it was legally impossible to do so. Patricians were high class citizens, the rich Romans while plebeians were just about the lowest class of citizens. But slaves were even lower class than plebeians. The reason for a patrician to become a tribune of plebeians was legally impossible was because unfair treatment could come up. Everybody knew in Rome that patricians treated the plebeians as lower status and didn't want anything to do with them. And they barely got any rights like patricians did. So when the tribune came into effect, plebeians could have some rights. Because if a patrician had been their tribune, well, they could veto their rights and leave them. Tribunes were definitely important in Rome.
Vocabulary:
Patricians: Higher class citizens that are quite wealthy
Plebeians: Lower class citizens
Potestas: power
Imperium: authority
Plebeians: Lower class citizens
Potestas: power
Imperium: authority