Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/43

Rh lacked time — one of the first elements of political power. On retiring from office, moreover, they could be prosecuted for official misconduct, and were thus amenable to the laws. The principles of collegiate and annual tenure — the opposite of individuality and continuity — are the characteristic and fundamental ideas which distinguish the republic from the monarchy.

Consular Powers and Insignia. — In spite of the preceding and other limitations, the consuls, like the kings, were the chief factors in legislation, the highest administrators and commanders, and in a certain sense the supreme judges of Rome; and they always remained the highest magistrates of the republic.

As compared with the royal splendor, the outward state of the consuls was simple: they wore togas with purple borders, sat on curule chairs, and ordinarily went on foot when in the city; they had, however, twelve lictors each.

Legislative Powers. — Each consul had the power to convene the senate and the assemblies of curies and centuries, to propose laws, and to submit them to popular vote. He had, in brief, the royal legislative powers, but his administrative powers — religious, financial, and judicial — were restricted in various ways.

Religious Affairs. — The consul, as well as the king, had the power and privilege of taking the auspices, and offering prayers and sacrifices to the gods in order that he might obtain their sanction of official acts; but he was deprived of the superintendence of the public worship and the guardianship of the state religion (p. 32).

Financial Affairs. — The consul retained the supervision of the public treasury and of the archives. He had even the authority to appropriate public funds on his own