Rome had many magistrates. Besides the two consuls and an
occasional dictator there were the ten tribunes, the praetors, who served as
judges, and the quaestors, or keepers of the treasury. The two censors were
also very important officers. It was their business to make an enumeration or
census of the citizens and to assess property for taxation. The censors almost
always were reverend seniors who had held the consulship and enjoyed a
reputation for justice and wisdom. Their office grew steadily in importance,
especially after the censors began to exercise an oversight of the private life
of the Romans. They could expel a senator from his seat for immorality and
could deprive any citizen of his vote. The word "censorious," meaning
faultfinding, is derived from the name of these ancient officials.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE
The authority of the magistrates was much limited by the
Senate. This body contained about three hundred members, who held their seats
generally for life. When vacancies occurred, they were filled, as a rule, by
those who had previously held one or more of the higher magistracies. There sat
in the Senate every man who, as statesman, general, or diplomatist, had served
his country well.
