r. The former, except the Censor, had the
_Imperium_; the latter did not. To the former class belonged the
Consuls, Praetors, and Censors, who were all elected in the Comitia
Centuriata. The magistrates were also divided into two other classes,
viz. Curule and Non-Curule. The Curule offices were those of Dictator,
Magister Equitum, Consul, Praetor, Censor, and Curule Aedile. These
officers had the right to sit in the _sella curulis_, chair of state.
This chair was displayed upon all public occasions, especially in
the circus and theatre; and it was the seat of the Praetor when he
administered justice. In shape it was plain, resembling a common folding
camp-stool, with crooked legs. It was ornamented with ivory, and later
overlaid with gold.

The descendants of any one who had held a curule office were nobles,
and had the right to place in their halls and to carry at funeral
processions a wax mask of this ancestor, as well as of any other
deceased members of the family of curule rank.

A person who first held a curule office, and whose ancestors had never
held one, was called a _novus homo_, i. e. a new man. The most famous
new men were Marius and Cicero.

The magistrates were chosen only from the patricians in the early
republic; but in course of time the plebeians shared these honors. The
plebeian magistrates, properly so called, were the plebeian Aediles and
the Tribuni Plebis.

All the magistrates, except the Censor, were elected for one year; and
all but the Tribunes and Quaestors began their term of office on January
1st. The Tribune's year began December 10th; that of the Quaestor,
December 5th.

The offices, except that of Tribune, formed a gradation, through which
one must pass if he desired the consulship. The earliest age for holding
each was, for the quaestorship, twenty-seven years; for the aedileship,
thirty-seven; for the praetorship, forty; and for the consulship,
forty-three. No magistrate received any salary, and only the wealthy
could afford to hold office.

THE CONSULS.

The two Consuls were the highest magistrates, except when a Dictator was
appointed, and were the chiefs of the administration. Their power was
equal, and they had the right before all others of summoning the Senate
and the Comitia Centuriata, in each of which they presided. "When both
Consuls were in the city, they usually took turns in performing the
official duties, each acting a month; and during this time the Consul
wa