Censors

Censors, the name of two Roman officers of state of high dignity, whose duties related to the official registration of the citizens (census), the superintendence of public morals (regimen morum), and arrangements for the collection of the public revenue and the execution of public works. They were elected in the comitia centuriata, presided over by a consul. The term of office at first lasted five years, but was shortly afterwards limited to eighteen months. The censorship was regarded as the highest dignity in the state, except the dictatorship. It was a sacred and irresponsible magistracy, whose powers were vast and undefined, and whose decisions were received with solemn reverence. The census or registration was taken in the Campus Martius, in a building called Villa Publica. It was a complete catalogue of the citizens of Rome, stating in detail the age of each, the amount of his property, and the number of his children. Next the censors drew up a list of the equites, entitled to have a horse at the public expense, and made up the roll of senators, supplying the vacancies. The regimen morum was the most dreaded and absolute of their powers. It grew naturally out of the exercise of the previous duty, which compelled them to exclude unworthy persons from the lists of citizens. Gradually the superintendence of the censor extended from the public to the private life of citizens. They could inflict disgrace (ignominia) on any one whose conduct did not square with their notions of rectitude or duty. For instance, if a man neglected the cultivation of his fields, or carried on a disreputable trade, or refused to marry, or treated his family either too kindly or too harshly, or was extravagant, or guilty of bribery, cowardice, &c., he might be degraded, according to his rank, or otherwise punished. The administration of the finances of the state included the regulation of the tributum or property-tax; of the vectigalia, such as the tithes paid for the public lands, salt-works, mines, customs, &c., which were usually leased out to speculators for five years; the preparation of the state budget, &c. The office of censor continued to be filled by patricians till 351 B.C., when Censor Marcus Rutilus, a plebeian, was elected. Twelve years later it was enacted that one of the censors (there were always two) must be a plebeian. In 131 B.C. both censors for the first time were plebeians.