Roman Elections in the Age of Cicero: Society, Government, and Voting

Description

Great debate exists amongst classical historians on the nature of Roman republican government. Some contend that the Roman Republic was governed by a small group of aristocratic families that entrenched their rule by means of long-standing alliances and an intricate network of loyal clients from the lower echelons of society. Others contest the definition of the republican government as oligarchic, maintaining that the Roman elite did not operate in a political vacuum and that Polybius’ judgment, which concedes a democratic element in the Roman constitution as embodied in the powers of the popular assemblies, cannot be simply swept aside. This debate has found its way into various scholarly works, but, until now, no single volume has been dedicated specifically to elections and electioneering, a sphere where the people―according to these interpretations―played a central if not a crucial role. Roman Elections in the Age of Cicero provides new and intriguing insights into the nature of Roman republican government and the people’s actual powers, but also addresses questions relevant to elections in our own societies today. Roman Elections in the Age of Cicero: Society, Government, and Voting Contents Preface and Acknowledgments 1 Historical Survey 2 Roman Society INTRODUCTORY NOTES TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS 1 Tribes 2 Municipia 3 Urban and Rural Administrative Units: Pagi and Vici TIMOCRATIC DIVISIONS: CENSUS, CLASSES, AND CENTURIAE SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS, SOCIAL RELATIONS, AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS 1 Gentes 2 Patronage (patrocinium), Patrons (patroni), and Clients (clientes) 3 Patricians and Plebs 4 Nobiles, Nobilitas, and Novi Homines 5 Equites (Equestrians), Publicani (Publicans), and the Ordo Equester (Equestrian Order) 6 Rural Plebs, Urban Plebs, and Freedmen 3 Principles and Structure of Republican Government INTRODUCTION THE MAGISTRACIES Introductory Notes 1 Consuls 2 Praetors 3 Aediles 4 Quaestors 5 Tribunes of the Plebs 6 Minor Magistracies 7 Censors 8 Dictator 9 Promagistrates 10 The Career Ladder (Cursus Honorum) THE SENATE (SENATUS) 1 Composition and Procedures 2 Patrician Prerogatives 3 Powers and Roles THE POPULAR ASSEMBLIES Introductory Notes 1 The Curiate Assembly (Comitia Curiata) 2 The Centuriate Assembly (Comitia Centuriata) 3 The Tribal Assemblies LAW COURTS AND TRIALS 4 Elections INTRODUCTORY NOTES 1 Preliminary Procedures 2 Candidature (Professio) 3 Electioneering (Petitio) 4 “Parties,” Alliances, and Political Deals 5 Voting, Vote Counting, and Declaring the Results 6 General Elections? Universal and Equitable Suff rage? 7 How Many Citizens Voted? 8 Equal Elections? 9 Secret Ballot? 10 Electoral Abuse (Ambitus) 11 The People’s Representatives? Epilogue: Between Oligarchy and Democracy Notes Preface and Acknowledgments 1 Historical Survey 2 Roman Society 3 Principles and Structure of Republican Government 4 Elections Epilogue Bibliography Index