One check on a magistrate's power was his collegiality. Each magisterial office would be held concurrently by at least two people. Another such check was provocatio. Provocatio was a primordial form of due process. It was a precursor to habeas corpus. If any magistrate tried to use the powers of the state against a citizen, that citizen could appeal the decision of the magistrate to a tribune. In addition, once a magistrate's one-year term of office expired, he would have to wait ten years before serving in that office again. This created problems for some consuls and praetors, and these magistrates would occasionally have their imperium extended. In effect, they would retain the powers of the office (as a promagistrate), without officially holding that office. COUNT 5
QSN1 How long concurrently could an elected magistrate serve in office? ANS1 one-year QSN2 How many people would serve concurrently in a single magisterial office? ANS2 at least two people QSN3 What form of due process was a harbinger of our vary own habeas corpus? ANS3 Provocatio QSN4 What would you call a magistrate who had his powers of imperium continued? ANS4 promagistrate QSN5 Who would a Roman go see in an attempt to reverse the decision of a magistrate? ANS5 a tribune