magistrate. Their persons were considered sacred, and no one could
hinder them in the discharge of their official duties under penalty of
death. They called together the Comitia Tribúta, and they also had
authority to convene the Senate and to preside over it. Sulla
succeeded in restricting their power; but Pompey restored it. The
Tribunes did not possess the _imperium_.


CENSORS.

There were two Censors, chosen from Ex-Consuls, and they held office
for eighteen months. They were elected once every five years, this
period being called a _lustrum_. They ranked as higher magistrates
without possessing the _imperium_. Their duties were:

(1) To take the census, i.e. register the citizens and their amount of
property, and to fill all vacancies in the Senate.
(2) To have a general oversight of the finances, like our Secretary of
the Treasury; to contract for the erecting of public buildings, and for
the making or repairing of public roads, sewers, etc.; to let out the
privilege of collecting the taxes, for five years, to the highest
bidder.[Footnote: In the intervals of the censorship, the duties under
(2) fell to the Aediles. ]
(3) To punish gross immorality by removal of the guilty parties from the
Senate, the Equites, or the tribe.


DICTATOR.

In cases of great danger the Senate called upon the Consuls to appoint