Tribune of the Plebs

The Tribune of the Plebs was the powerful Leader of the Concilium Plebis, the Plebeian Assembly which was part of the Comitia Tributa, one of the three Assemblies of the Roman Republic.
His power was unusual in that he was able to veto the actions or proposed legislation of the Roman Senate, as well as the Roman Magistrates and the Consul. Under the Empire, his powers were transferred to the Roman Emperor.

The Tribune held the power to Veto the actions of the Consuls, the Magistrates and the Roman Senate.
The Tribune had ‘Sacrosanctity’, although he did not hold Maior Potestas, and anybody who violated his Sacrosanctity could be put to death.
Only a Dictator was exempt from the Tribune’s power of Veto.
The Sacrosanctity of the Tribune was limited to the boundaries of the City of Rome. Therefore, (apart from one mile (1.6km) distance from the walls), the Tribune had no authority outside of Rome.
Only a Plebeian could be elected Tribune, which excluded the Patricians from holding that Office.

The Office was unique in Roman history.
Shortly after the Roman Republic was formed in 509 BCE, a revolt by the Plebeians occurred in 495-494 BCE, after a series Taxation measures by the Senate threatened to bankrupt them.
All the Plebeians left Rome and sat on Mons Sacer (Holy Mount). They agreed to return provided a set of special Tribunes was created to represent them in the Senate, and protect them from the power of the Consuls.
In 493 BCE, the first Tribune of the Plebs took Office, and a total of 2 to 5 Tribunes were appointed to the Tribunate.
In 457 BCE, ten Tribunes of the Plebs were created and that number remained in place until the end of Roman history.

In 81 BCE, the Dictator Sulla passed a series of Reforms which ended the Tribune’s Right to enable legislation and to veto the Acts of the Senate.
From 27 BCE onwards, Augustus and all subsequent Roman Emperors were granted ‘Tribunicia Potestas’ (tribunician power) by the Roman Senate, when they acceded to Office.
Often, the chosen heir to the Emperor was made a Tribune and awarded ‘Tribunicia Potestas’, such as Agrippa, Trajan and Marcus Aurelius.
Although the Office continued to the end of the Roman Empire, the Tribune of the Plebs was never again able to challenge the power of the Senate or of the Emperor.