POLITICAL HIERARCHY OF ROME

CONSULS
* There will always be two Consuls appointments open only to Senators who have been Praetor or Consul. 
* responsible for: 
* calling and presiding over all meetings of the Senate. 
* publishing the first Roman newsletter after entering office. 


Only they :
* may introduce new Roman laws 
* may call for a division of the Senate (a vote). 
* may call for elections. 
* No Consul may be removed from office before the end of his/her term. 
* After their term, a Consul secures the title and status of Consular, allowing them two Senatorial votes.

PRAETOR 
* This appointment is only open to Senators. 
* The Praetor is responsible to the Senate and People to ensure that ALL Rome's laws are obeyed 
* They shall: 
* act as judges in disputes involving Romans
* act as a Consul if a Consul is unable to keep participating. 

AEDILE 
* appointment is only open to Equestrians and Patricians. 
* They must sponsor and preside over two events in Rome's name, i.e., battle, games, races, feast, quest, or a sacred hunt. 
* candidates must present their ideas for events when announcing their candidacy. 




* This event must be pre-approved by the Consuls and Tribune of the Plebs. 
* The Consuls and Tribune may disapprove an event, not a candidate, for this reason. 
* The ballot for Aedile must include a brief description of the event they wish to hold. (Lex Valeria Junia)  
* They are also immediately elevated to the Senate (if not already a Senator).
QUAESTOR 
* Appointment only open to Equestrians and Patricians.
* Acts as ‘Treasurer’ for Rome, and is accountable to Senate for all funds collected. 
* Shall oversee any purchases made collectively by Rome. This includes any funding granted to the Aedile for their event. 
* Is immediately elevated to the Senate
TRIBUNE OF THE PLEBIANS 
* appointment is only open to Plebeians and Equestrians. 
* Only Plebeians and Equestrians may vote in the Tribune's election. 
* The Tribune is the only Plebeian allowed to sit in on ALL Senate meetings as the People's representative. 
* The Tribune is empowered with the VETO, allowing them to reject almost any Senate legislation or function. 
PLEBEIANS
* A Plebeian is the standard Roman citizen. This will be the starting social status for almost every citizen of Rome. 
* They are the people in the expression "Senate and People of Rome". They were not a lowly peasants, they are citizens of Rome.
THE ROMAN SENATE 
* composed of those Romans who have distinguished themselves politically, and served as elected officials. The Senate controls the Treasury, votes on new legislation, and establishes policy. 
* The Senate's duty is to ensure that Rome thrives in all non-military aspects.
PATRICIANS 
* The Patrician Class is Rome's elite aristocracy, the powerful Founding Families of Rome. 
* For centuries Patricians governed Rome exclusively. To be a Patrician is to view the Senate as a birthright. Your bloodline can be traced to the Senate, and is steeped in honors, culture, and tradition. 

* Your ancestors have held high office, commanded great armies, and installed the known world beneath the Roman boot. 
* Patricians would sew a broad purple stripe (at least three inches wide) down the right side of their tunics to signify their rank. Patricians also wore an iron ring, and shoes of red leather. 

EQUESTRIANS 
* This Order is the Plebeian nobility. 
* These are Plebeians who have ennobled themselves by entering the Senate. 
* Also referred to as the Equites, or Knights. 
* In Roman antiquity, these were the wealthy, Plebeian merchant class 
* They were granted a "Public Horse" by the State so they could act as the Republic's cavalry. 


* Purple was reserved for the nobility. 
* Equestrians wore a slim (one inch width) purple stripe (clavus) down the right of their tunics (front and back) to signify their noble status. 
* Equestrians could also wore a plain gold ring, 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
* http://www.romanempire.net/romepage/PolCht/Main_political_hierarchy.htm