Legislative Assemblies of the Roman Republic

Comitia (plural of Latin comitium " meeting place " ) was the name for a popular assembly in ancient Rome. In these meetings ( German: comitia ) the result of an election or referendum has not been determined on the basis of individual votes, but because of the voting results of individual groups. Depending on the nature of this group following comitia were distinguished:

• Comitia curiata - Assembly of 30 curies ( curiae ). At present, Marcus Tullius Cicero each curia was represented by a lictor.
• Comitia centuriata - sorted by Centurions ( centuriae ) or asset classes, originally a military assembly; these comitia elected the consuls.
• Comitia populi tributa - sorted by original four, last 35 tribes. In the same way also the Special Assembly of the Plebs ( Concilium plebis ) was organized.

The Comitia was preceded by a Contio usually.

How much influence did the people in the Roman Republic over the comitia on the policy is controversial. While Polybius Rome looked at as an example of a mixed constitution, in the monarchical ( magistrates ), aristocratic (Senate ) and democratic ( comitia ) elements themselves were balanced, later research saw a clear preponderance of the Senate, of (or leading him Politicians ) have previously determined the decisions of the people's Assembly. In recent years, some historians of the plebs, and thus the comitia have granted a greater role again.

In the expression of the Comitia, the term Komitialgesandter the name for a messenger when the Perpetual Imperial Diet at Regensburg goes back, at that time.