DateDate Change in Change in constitutionconstitution

Key termsKey terms

494494 Creation of plebeian Creation of plebeian tribunestribunes

secessiosecessio; ; tribuni plebistribuni plebis

471471 Creation of plebeian Creation of plebeian assemblyassembly

concilium plebisconcilium plebis; ; plebiscitaplebiscita

451-50451-50 Codification of law (12 Codification of law (12 Tables)Tables)

decemviridecemviri

449449 Plebeian tribunes Plebeian tribunes become inviolablebecome inviolable

Lex Valeria HoratiaLex Valeria Horatia; ; sacrosanctitassacrosanctitas

445445 Intermarriage legalizedIntermarriage legalized conubiumconubium; ; Lex Lex CanuleiaCanuleia

370s370s Anarchy: no magistrates Anarchy: no magistrates with consular imperiumwith consular imperium

367367 Plebeians eligible for Plebeians eligible for consulshipconsulship

Military tribunes with Military tribunes with consular power abolishedconsular power abolished

Lex Licinia SextiaLex Licinia Sextia

by 342by 342 One consul must be One consul must be plebeianplebeian

ca. 330ca. 330 Plebeians eligible for all officesPlebeians eligible for all offices

Senate now a body of patricians Senate now a body of patricians andand plebeians plebeians

326326 Debt-slavery abolishedDebt-slavery abolished nexumnexum

312312 Censor Appius ClaudiusCensor Appius Claudius fails to open Senate to fails to open Senate to proletariiproletarii builds Rome’s first road (to Campania): builds Rome’s first road (to Campania): Via Via AppiaAppia builds Rome’s first aqueduct: builds Rome’s first aqueduct: Aqua AppiaAqua Appia

300300 Plebeians eligible for Plebeians eligible for all priesthoodsall priesthoods

Lex OgulniaLex Ogulnia

Right of appeal Right of appeal ((provocatioprovocatio) of capital ) of capital punishment verdictspunishment verdicts

Lex ValeriaLex Valeria

287287 Last Last secessiosecessio: Quintus Hortensius : Quintus Hortensius dictatordictator

PlebiscitaPlebiscita binding on all binding on all

What did all of this mean for the magistrates?

What did all of this mean for the assemblies?

What did all of this mean for Rome?

Impact on assemblies & magistrates

Plebeian assembly elects plebeian tribunes and aediles & becomes the venue for prosecution of magistrates by a plebeian tribune

Centuriate assembly elects consuls, praetors, censors; becomes main legislative body

Curiate assembly loses all power and rubber stamps conferral of imperium on consuls and praetors

Tribal assembly elects curule aediles and quaestors

Plebeian tribunes can veto any decision taken by the Senate

Impact on Rome:after 200+ years of agitation …

plebeians gain full representation in state affairs

plebeians gain full access to magistracies and organs of power

distinctions between plebeians and patricians disappear

new oligarchy formed: the well-to-do and not the well-born