Lagislative body in ancient Rome

 Legislation

Introduction: The last agency of the development of law is legislation. In Roman history we find that laws were passed by the popular assemblies, the senate senate and the Emperors. There were four legislative assembly in ancient Rome. Such as (1)Comitia curiata (2)Comitia Centuriata (3) Comitia tributa (4) Concilium plebis

1.Comitia Curiata: This was the most ancient legislative assembly composed of patricians. The Roman people were divided into three tribes and each tribes was composed of ten curiae. The male members of these curiae who were capable of carrying arms formed the comitia curiata.

When it dealt with validation of adoption or confirmation of wills, it called comitia calata. It's final vote was needed to confer authority on the elected magistrates .

2.Comitia centuriata and reforms of Servious Tullius: Comitia centuriata was the result of the reforoms made by Sixth King of ancient Rome named Servious Tullius. It was an assembly composed of all the citizens both patricians and plebeians. Servius Tullius divided the people into five classes according to their wealth. Each class was sub divided into centuries. In all there were 193 centuries. The he patricians as well as the plebeians could sit and vote in the comitia centuriata.

3.Comitia tributa: The comitia tributa was an assembly of the people based on a division of the Roman people according to local division or district and hence the title tributa. This assembly included the patricians and the plebeians. This grouping was devised for fiscal and administrative purposes and also assigned by tradition to Servius Tullius.

4.Concilium plebis: The concilium plebis was an assembly purely of the plebeians where their grievances were discussed. It was convoked by a tribune. It could pass resolutions, in that assembly determining the policy of the plebeians. Which were at first binding on the plebeians alone. The resolutions passed at the concilium plebis were Known as the plebiscita.