Comitia Tributa

Political Institutions

A tribal assembly of Roman citizens used for elections, legislation, and judicial business.

Section: The Roman World

Category: Political Institutions

Overview

The Comitia Tributa organised citizens by tribe rather than military century. It elected several junior magistrates and could pass laws when summoned by an appropriate magistrate.

Why It Matters

The tribal principle gave the assembly a different political structure from the wealth-weighted centuriate assembly, although influence and access remained unequal.

In Roman Practice

Urban and rural tribes voted as collective units. Political organisation, attendance, and the sequence of voting could strongly affect outcomes.