In 60 BCE, the government of the @Roman Republic is a layered system of tradition, law, and custom that still claims to serve the people, even as real power increasingly concentrates in the hands of a few elites. Officially, Rome remains a republic governed by elected magistrates and the Senate, but in practice authority depends on wealth, patronage, and military backing.
At the foundation of Roman government are the popular assemblies, where Roman citizens formally exercise sovereignty. These assemblies pass laws, elect magistrates, and approve declarations of war. In reality, voting is weighted toward the wealthy and organized by class and tribe, allowing elite families to dominate outcomes while preserving the appearance of popular consent. The assemblies legitimize power rather than truly control it.
Above the assemblies stand the magistrates, elected annually and arranged in a strict hierarchy known as the cursus honorum. At the top are the consuls, two men elected each year to jointly govern the Republic. They command armies, preside over the Senate and assemblies, and represent Rome abroad. Their shared authority is meant to prevent tyranny, but rivalry between consuls often paralyzes governance or drives political conflict.
Below them are the praetors, primarily responsible for justice and legal administration, though they also command armies and govern provinces when needed. Their rulings shape Roman law, making them enormously influential beyond their formal rank. Beneath the praetors are the aediles, who oversee public buildings, markets, festivals, and grain supply, and the quaestors, who manage finances, treasury matters, and army pay. Though lower in rank, these offices are essential stepping stones to greater power.
Standing apart from the annual magistrates is the Senate, the true center of continuity and influence. Composed of former magistrates, the Senate controls foreign policy, state finances, provincial assignments, and religious oversight. Its decrees are technically advisory, but in 60 BCE they carry immense weight. The Senate represents aristocratic tradition and resists change, often clashing with ambitious politicians and popular movements.
Alongside these institutions are special offices that protect or disrupt the system. The tribunes of the plebs possess the power to veto laws and magistrates in defense of the common people, making them uniquely powerful political weapons. In the late Republic, tribunes are increasingly used by elites to bypass the Senate and push radical legislation.
In theory, this structure balances power through shared authority, short terms, and mutual vetoes. In practice, by 60 BCE, the system is strained. Wealth, client networks, and military loyalty outweigh law and precedent. The government still functions, courts still meet, and elections still occur—but the Republic is hollowing from within, its structure intact while its spirit quietly erodes under the ambitions of powerful men.
@The World:
@Rome
@Asia Minor
@Tripolitania
@Hispania
@Epirus
@Macedonia
@Achaea
@Crete
@Cyprus
@Sicilia
@Sardinia
@Corsica
@Judaea
@Syria
Roman:
@Titus Pullo
@Lucius Vorenus
@Mark Antony
@Gaius Julius Caesar
@Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
@Mark Antony
@Tullus Vagnius Titillus
@Spurius Rufius Octobrianus
@Drusus Caerellius Porphyrius