J. B. Shurk – One of the most powerful and prestigious offices in the ancient Roman Republic was the censor. It was the censor’s duty to conduct the census — an account of all the citizens and their properties, an appraisal of an individual Roman’s qualifications for certain honors and ranks, and a division of the people into distinct social classes.

Having the authorities both to assess tax liability and noble rank made the two censors who shared this office inherently powerful. For this reason, the patricians (the ruling class) originally precluded the plebeians (the commoners) from ever obtaining the office. The ruling class was not keen on empowering a commoner to decide who is worthy of being a patrician! Continue reading →