Roman Government: Senātus, Cōnsul and Rēs Pūblica
The main institutions and offices of ancient Rome, from the Senate and consuls to emperors, with the Latin words that became English political terms.
Much of our political vocabulary is Roman. Here are the key offices and institutions, with their Latin names.
The Republic
The Roman Rēs Pūblica ("the public thing") lasted from about 509 BC until the rise of the emperors in the first century BC. Its main parts were:
| Latin | Meaning | Role |
|---|---|---|
| senātus | Senate | council of elders (senex, old man) |
| cōnsul | consul | two elected leaders, serving one year |
| praetor | praetor | judge and magistrate |
| tribūnus plēbis | tribune of the people | protected the common people |
| dictātor | dictator | given emergency power for a limited time |
The two consuls could check each other's power, and each term lasted one year.
S.P.Q.R.
S.P.Q.R. stands for Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, "the Senate and People of Rome", the official name of the Roman state. It appeared on standards, coins and buildings, and can still be seen in modern Rome.
The Empire
After a period of civil war, Augustus became the first emperor in 27 BC. The title imperātor originally meant a victorious commander. Under the emperors, the Senate continued to meet but held less power.
Citizens and law
| Latin | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cīvis | citizen |
| lex | law |
| iūs | justice, right, law |
| populus | the people |
| plēbs | the common people |
| patricius | a member of the noble class |
English words from Roman politics
| English | Latin |
|---|---|
| senate, senator | senātus |
| consul | cōnsul |
| republic | rēs pūblica |
| dictator | dictātor |
| candidate | candidātus, "dressed in white" |
| veto | "I forbid" |
| civic, civil | cīvis |
Useful phrases
- Rēs pūblica — the state.
- Senātus populusque Rōmānus. — the Roman state.
Tips
- Learn the key offices.
- Link them to English words.
- Use the dictionary to check terms.
English Latin Dictionary
Offline English–Latin dictionary for students, classics and word-origin lookups
More about English Latin Dictionary
From Latin to Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese
How everyday Latin turned into the Romance languages, with side-by-side word comparisons that help you spot patterns.
Read article →Great Latin Authors: Vergil, Ovid, Cicero and Caesar
A short tour of the major Roman writers, what each is famous for, and a famous opening line from each to practise reading.
Read article →Latin in Law: Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono and Prima Facie
The Latin terms still used in courts and legal writing, what each means literally, and how understanding the Latin helps you remember them.
Read article →Latin in Medicine and Science: From Anatomy to Prescriptions
How Latin shapes anatomy, medical terms and prescription abbreviations, with examples that show how to decode unfamiliar medical words.
Read article →