COMITIA

comitia (k<<schwa>>-mish-ee-<<schwa>>), n. [Latin “assembly”] Roman law. An assembly of the Roman people, gathered together for legislative or judicial purposes. • Women were excluded from participation.

comitia centuriata (k<<schwa>>-mish-ee-<<schwa>> sen-tyoor-ee-ay-t<< schwa>>). (often cap.) An assembly of the entire populace, voting by centuries (that is, military units) empowered to elect magistrates and to act as a court of appeal in a capital matter.

“The Comitia Centuriata, said to have been originated by the sixth King, Servius Tullius, included the whole Roman people arranged in classes according to their wealth, so as to give the preponderating power to the richest. During the regal period it was a military organisation on the basis of property: under the Republic it became a legislative body, ousting the Comitia Curiata.” William A. Hunter, Introduction to Roman Law 16 (F.H. Lawson ed., 9th ed. 1934).

comitia curiata (k<<schwa>>-mish-ee-<<schwa>> kyoor-ee-ay-t<<schwa>>). (often cap.) An assembly of (originally) patricians whose chief function was to authorize private acts of citizens, such as declaring wills and adoptions. • The comitia curiata engaged in little legislative activity.

“The oldest [of the four assemblies of the Roman people] was the Comitia Curiata. In the regal period this as-sembly consisted of the Populus Romanus in its thirty curies (or family groups): it could meet only by summons of the King; it merely accepted or rejected the proposals submitted by him, without the right of discussion or amendment; nor was any decision by it valid without the authorisation of the Senate. Under the Republic it rapidly fell into the background, though it formally existed, represented by thirty lictors, down into Imperial times: for the private law its main importance lay in its meetings under pontifical presidency to deal with matters of religious significance, such as adrogations and wills.” William A. Hunter, Introduction to Roman Law 15–16 (F.H. Lawson ed., 9th ed. 1934).

comitia tributa (k<<schwa>>-mish-ee-<<schwa>> tri-byoo-t<<schwa>>). (often cap.) An assembly of tribes convened to elect lower-ranking officials. • The comitia tributa undertook a great deal of legislative activity in the later Roman republic. Cf. CONCILIUM PLEBIS.

“The Comitia Tributa was the assembly of the whole Roman people in their tribes — a regional classification. In this assembly the influence of numbers predominated.” William A.

Hunter, Introduction to Roman Law 16 (F.H. Lawson ed., 9th ed. 1934). [Blacks Law 8th]