The Constitution
The Constitution of the Roman Republic was an unwritten set of rules and regulations passed through precedents. This constitution was neither formal nor official. It was just constantly evolving.
The Senate of The Roman Republic
The Senate's authority mainly came from the dignity and influence of the Senators. The Senate passed directives, called senatus consulta. This is what the Roman people called 'advice' from the Senate to the magistrate which were normally obeyed by the magistrate. The Roman Senate was directed towards foreign policy. Though the Senate never officially managed the military conflict, they were the people who oversaw such affairs.
legislative Assemblies
The legal rank of Roman autonomy was very limited and was a very important necessary to owning many major legal rights. These legal rights included the right to trial and appeal, to vote, to hold office, to enter binding contracts and to special tax exemptions. But not all these rights were for every citizen. Women were granted citizenship while not being allowed to vote or to hold elected office. An adult male citizen who had all legal and political rights, was called the 'optimo jure'. The assemblies were elected from the optimo jure and the magistrates were elected from the assemblies. The assemblies also accomplished charters, governed over trials in capital cases, declared war and peace, forged or dissolved treaties. There were two types of legislative assemblies: the comitia (committees) which included all the optimo jure and the concilia (councils) which included specific groups of optimo jure.
The Century Assembly
The Comitia Centuriata (Century Assembly) was the assembly of the centuries. The president of this assembly was usually a consul. This president was elected by the centuries voting one at a time, until a measure received support from a majority of the centuries. The Century Assembly also elected a magistrate who were consuls and praetors and censors. The Century Assembly were the only people who could declare war or approve the results of a census. The Century Assembly was also the highest court of appeal for certain legal cases.
The Tribal assembly
The Comitia Tributa (Tribal Assembly) was the assembly of the tribes and was governed by a consul. This assembly consisted of thirty five tribes. These tribes were only geographical subdivisions. The order that the thirty five tribes would vote was selected randomly. The consul was elected once a measure received support from a majority of the tribes. At the time it didn't pass many laws, the Tribal Assembly could elect treasurers, curule aediles and military tribunes.
Plebeian council
The Plebeian Council was an assembly of plebeians, the common-citizens of Rome. They elected their own officers, plebeian aediles and plebeian tribunes. The plebeian tribune usually would govern over the assembly. The Plebeian Council could pass most laws and also acted as a court of appeal. Because it was organised by the tribes, the rules and procedures were nearly the same as those of the Comitia Tributa.
Executive Magistrates
Each magistrate had a certain degree of major power. Each magistrate could veto an action of a magistrate of equal or lower rank. But plebeian tribunes and plebeian aediles were independent of the other magistrates. Only the People of Rome had the right to argue these powers on any individual magistrate. The most powerful inherent power was the imperium which gave the magistrate the authority to command a military force. Both consuls and praetors held the imperium. All magistrates also had the power of coercion which was the authority to maintain public order. These people had the power and duty to look for omens and this power was usually used to obstruct political opponents. A check on a magistrate's power was collegiality. Each magisterial office was held by at least two people. Once a magistrate one-year term has expired, he would have to wait a decade until he could serve in that office again.
The consuls of the Roman Republic were the highest ranking magistrate and each consul served for one year. While in the city of Rome, the consuls were the head of the Roman government. They governed over the senate and the assemblies and while abroad, each consul would command an army. They had absolute power over civil and military matters.
The praetors presided over civil law and commanded provincial armies. Every five years, two censors were elected for an eighteen month term. During this term, the censors conducted a census where they could enroll people to or purge people from the Senate. Aediles were officers who conduct private events such as public games and shows. The quaestors were normally that helped the consuls in Rome and the governors in their provinces about financial problems. The tribunes were considered sacred because they considered they represented the plebeians. No common citizen was allowed to physically harm the tribune in any way. It was also a great offence to omit his veto or to interfere with a tribune. In a time of warmongering emergency, a dictator would be elected for a six-month term. Constitutional government would be dissolved when a dictator becomes head of state. When the dictator's term ended the constitutional government would be restored.
The consuls of the Roman Republic were the highest ranking magistrate and each consul served for one year. While in the city of Rome, the consuls were the head of the Roman government. They governed over the senate and the assemblies and while abroad, each consul would command an army. They had absolute power over civil and military matters.
The praetors presided over civil law and commanded provincial armies. Every five years, two censors were elected for an eighteen month term. During this term, the censors conducted a census where they could enroll people to or purge people from the Senate. Aediles were officers who conduct private events such as public games and shows. The quaestors were normally that helped the consuls in Rome and the governors in their provinces about financial problems. The tribunes were considered sacred because they considered they represented the plebeians. No common citizen was allowed to physically harm the tribune in any way. It was also a great offence to omit his veto or to interfere with a tribune. In a time of warmongering emergency, a dictator would be elected for a six-month term. Constitutional government would be dissolved when a dictator becomes head of state. When the dictator's term ended the constitutional government would be restored.