Roman Elections in the Age of Cicero

Author: Feig Vishnia, Rachel
Title: Roman Elections in the Age of Cicero
Editor: Routledge
Year edition: 2011
Pages: 185
Keywords: Histoire - Storia - History, Politique - Politica - Politics
Description: [Publisher Abstract] 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.
Contents:Introduction Part I: Electors Roman Society 1. Patricians and Plebeians 2. Nobles, Nobility and New Men 3. Equites: Publicans and the Ordo Equester 4. The Multitudes: Rural Plebs, Urban Plebs, Freedmen 5. The Roman People (populus Romanus) at the end of the First Century BCE Social and Administrative Divisions 5. Patrons and Clients. 6. Census, Classes and Centuries 7. Tribes, Municipia, Pagi and Vici Part II: The Elected 8. The Magistracies 9. The Senate 10. The Law Courts Part III: Elections 11. The Electoral Assemblies 12. Candidacy 13. Electioneering 14. Parties, Political Alliances and Deals 15. The Role of Social and Religious Organizations (collegia and sodalitates) 16. Preliminary Procedures 17. Voting and the Declaration of Results 18. Were the Elections Universal and Free? 19. How Many People Voted? 20. One Man One Vote? 21. Written Ballot, Secret Ballot? 22. Electoral Bribery 23. Were the Elected the People’s Representatives? Epilogue: On Oligarchy, Democracy and What Lies In between
Author initials: Feig Vishnia 2011