ABSTRACT
Collegiality, temporality, and gratuity are the three elements limited magisterial power and acted as constitutional checks. The Roman constitution accommodated changing circumstances with new ideas and arguments. Since the administration of provinces was in the hands of praetors, the number of praetors gradually increased. Praetors were instrumental to developing Roman law by issuing edicts and introducing legislation. As Rome's first king, Romulus laid the political foundations of the city by establishing the Senate and dividing the people into three great tribes, probably ethnic in origin: the Ramnes, the Tities, and the Luceres. The political effect was the transformation of the Roman Republic into an absolute monarchy and, ultimately, the destruction of the remains of the Republic. According to tradition, the Roman people exercised their power in popular assemblies called comitia. The magistrates were the officials of Rome elected by the people and vested with executive power to fulfill their functions.
