ens_ were
descended from a common ancestor, after whom the _gens_ received its
name.

The head of each family was called PATER-FAMILIAS, and he had absolute
authority (Footnote: Called _patria potestas_.) over his household, even
in the matter of life and death.

The Roman government at first was conducted by these Fathers of the
families, with a KING, elected from their own number, and holding
office for life. His duties were to command the army, to perform certain
sacrifices (as high priest), and to preside over the assembly of the
Fathers of the families, which was called the SENATE, i. e. an assembly
of old men (_Senex_).

This body was probably originally composed of all the Fathers of the
families, but in historical times it was limited to THREE HUNDRED
members, holding life office, and appointed during the regal period by
the king. Later the appointment was made by the Consuls, still later by
the Censors, and for nearly one hundred years before Christ all persons
who had held certain offices were thereby vested with the right of seats
in the Senate. Hence, during this later period, the number of Senators
was greatly in excess of three hundred. The Senators, when addressed,
were called PATRES, or "Fathers," for they were Fathers of the families.

The Romans, as we saw above, were divided at first into three tribes,
_Ramnes_, _Tities_, and _Luceres_ Each tribe was subdivided into ten
districts called CURIAE, and each curia into ten clans called GENTES
(3 tribes, 30 curiae, and 300 gentes). Every Roman citizen,
therefore, belonged to a particular family, at the head of which was a
_pater-familias_; every family belonged to a particular _gens_, named
after a common ancestor; every gens belonged to a particular _curia_;
and every curia to a particular _tribe_.

We have learned that in the early government of Rome there was a king,
and a senate that advised the king. Besides this, there was an assembly
composed of all Roman citizens who could bear arms. (Footnote: We must
remember that at this time no one was a Roman citizen who did not
belong to some family. All other residents were either slaves or had no
political rights, i.e. had no voice in the government.) This assembly of
Roman citizens met, from time to time, in an enclosed space called the
COMITIUM, which means a place of gathering or coming together. This was
between the Palatine and Quirinal hills near the FORUM, or market-place.
This assembly itself w