Magistracies (Nova Roma)

Revision as of 18:01, 27 April 2006

Magistracies are the executive offices of Nova Roma. They can be classified in several ways.

Ordinary and Extraordinary Magistracies

The ordinary magistracies (Latin magistratus ordinarii) are those which are filled every year by regular elections. They are:

• The Censura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura
• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

Although the Tribunatus Plebis is not technically classified as a magistracy, in practice it is one of the ordinary magistracies.

The extraordinary magistracies (Latin magistratus extraordinarii) are those which are filled only when they are needed. They are:

• The Dictatura
• The Interregnum

Higher and Lower Magistracies

The higher magistracies (Latin magistratus maiores) are those which are most senior in rank. They are elected by the highest of the popular assemblies, the Comitia Centuriata.

• The Censura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura

The rest are lower magistracies (Latin magistratus minores):

• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribunatus Plebis is not technically classified as a magistracy, and it would not be correct to regard it as either a higher or a lower magistracy.

The extraordinary magistracies are not classified as either higher or lower magistracies.

Magistracies With and Without Imperium

Imperium is the highest form of executive power in the republic. Those magistracies which carry imperium (Latin magistratus cum imperio) are:

• The Dictatura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura

Those without imperium (Latin magistratus sine imperio) mostly have the lesser power of potestas:

• The Censura
• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribuni Plebis have neither imperium nor potestas but the special power of tribunicia potestas.

The power of the Interrex is hard to classify. Logically it ought to be imperium, because the constitutional duty of the Interrex is to preside over the election of the Consules, and this requires the convention of the Comitia Centuriata: only a magistrate with imperium can convene the Comitia Centuriata. However, strong custom prevents the interrex from exercising the full range of imperium.

Curule and Non-Curule Magistracies

The curule magistracies (Latin magistratus curules) are those whose holders are entitled by virtue of their office to sit on the curule chair (Latin sella curulis) and whose descendants are regarded as nobiles. They are:

• The Dictatura
• The Censura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura
• The Aedilitas Curulis

The non-curule magistrates (Latin magistratus non curules) are:

• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribunatus Plebis, not technically a magistracy at all, is not a curule office.

It is not entirely clear whether the Interregnum is a curule or a non-curule magistracy.