Plebeian Council

Roman Constitution
  • Constitution of the Kingdom
  • Constitution of the Republic
  • Constitution of the Empire
  • Constitution of the Late Empire
  • History of the Constitution
  • Senate
  • Legislative Assemblies
  • Executive Magistrates
Ordinary magistrates
  • Consul
  • Praetor
  • Quaestor
  • Promagistrate
  • Aedile
  • Tribune
  • Censor
  • Governor
Extraordinary magistrates
  • Dictator
  • Magister Equitum
  • Consular tribune
  • Rex
  • Triumviri
  • Decemviri
Titles and honours
  • Emperor
  • Legatus
  • Dux
  • Officium
  • Praefectus
  • Vicarius
  • Vigintisexviri
  • Lictor
  • Magister militum
  • Imperator
  • Princeps senatus
  • Pontifex Maximus
  • Augustus
  • Caesar
  • Tetrarch
Precedent and law
  • Roman Law
  • Imperium
  • Mos maiorum
  • Collegiality
  • Roman citizenship
  • Auctoritas
  • Cursus honorum
  • senatus consultum
    (senatus
    consultum
    ultimum)
  • Other countries
  • Atlas

Ancient Rome portal

The Concilium Plebis (English: Plebeian Council or People's Assembly) was the principal popular assembly of the ancient Roman Republic. It functioned as a legislative assembly, through which the plebeians (commoners) could pass laws, elect magistrates, and try judicial cases. The Plebeian Council was originally organized on the basis of the Curia. Thus, it was originally a "Plebeian Curiate Assembly". Around the year 471 BCE, it was reorganized on the basis of the Tribes. Thus, it became a "Plebeian Tribal Assembly". The Plebeian Council usually met in the well of the Comitia. Often patrician senators would observe from the steps of the Curia Hostilia, and would sometimes heckle during meetings. The representatives of the Plebians in government are called Tribunes. These Tribunes had the power to veto the laws of the Senate.

Famous quotes containing the words plebeian and/or council:

    “The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.”
    —Richard Rorty (b. 1931)

    “I haven’t seen so much tippy-toeing around since the last time I went to the ballet. When members of the arts community were asked this week about one of their biggest benefactors, Philip Morris, and its requests that they lobby the New York City Council on the company’s behalf, the pas de deux of self- justification was so painstakingly choreographed that it constituted a performance all by itself.”
    —Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)