"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 was always accompanied in public by twelve lictors,
who preceded him in single file, each carrying on his shoulders a
bundle of rods (_fasces_), to signify the power of the magistrate
to scourge criminals. Outside the city, these fasces showed an axe
projecting from each bundle, signifying the power of the magistrate to
behead criminals."

At the expiration of his year of office, the Consul was sent to govern
a province for one year, and was then called the _Proconsul_. He
was chief in his province in all military, civil, and criminal cases.


PRAETORS.

There were eight Praetors, whose duties were to administer justice
(judges). After the expiration of their year of office, they went, as
_Propraetors_, to govern provinces. The most important Praetor
was called _Praetor Urbánus_. He had charge of all civil suits
between Roman citizens. In the absence of both Consuls from the city,
he acted in their place. Each Praetor was attended by two lictors in
the city, and by six outside. The _Praetor Peregrínus_ had charge
of civil cases in which one or both parties were aliens. The other six
Praetors presided over the permanent criminal courts.


AEDILES.

The Aediles were four officers who had the general superintendence of