Comitia

(orum), an a embly of the Roman people. The word is derived from Comitium , the place where they were convened, quasi a cum eundo . The Comitium was a large hall, which was left uncovered at the top, in the first ages of the republic; so that the a embly was often di olved in rainy weather. The Comitia were called, some consular i a , for the election of the consuls; others prætoria , for the election of pretors, . These a emblies were more generally known by the name of Comitia , Curiata , Centu riata , and Tributa . The Curiata was when the people gave their votes by cur iæ. Centu riata were not convened in later times. See: Centuria . Another a embly was called Comitia Tributa , where the votes were received from the whole tribes together. At first the Roman people were divided only into three tribes; but as their numbers increased, the tribes were at last swelled to 35. The object of these a emblies was the electing of magistrates, and all the public officers of state. They could be di olved by one of the tribunes, if he differed in opinion from the rest of his colleagues. If one among the people was taken with the falling sickne , the whole a embly was immediately di olved, whence that disease is called morbus comitial is . After the custom of giving their votes vivâ voce had been abolished, every one of the a embly, in the enacting of a law, was presented with two ballots, on one of which were the letters U. R., that is, uti rogas , be it as is required; on the other was an A., that is, antiquo , which bears the same meaning as antiquam volo , I forbid it; the old law is preferable. If the number of ballots with U. R. was superior to the A.’s, the law was approved constitutionally; if not, it was rejected. Only the chief magistrates, and sometimes the pontifices, had the privilege of convening these a emblies. There were only these eight of the magistrates who had the power of proposing a law, the consuls, the dictator, the pretor, the interrex, the decemvirs, the military tribunes, the kings, and the triumvirs. These were called majores magi stratus ; to whom one of the minores magi stratus was added, the tribune of the people.