Legal Definitions - lex centuriata

Definition: Lex centuriata is a law passed in the comitia centuriata, which was an assembly of the Roman people gathered together for legislative or judicial purposes. It was a military organizationbased on property during the regal period, but it became a legislative body under the Republic.

Example: The Comitia Centuriata was empowered to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It included the whole Roman people arranged in classes according to their wealth, giving the preponderating power to the richest.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the Comitia Centuriata was a legislative body that had the power to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It was based on property during the regal period, but it became a legislative body under the Republic. The assembly was arranged in classes according to their wealth, giving the preponderating power to the richest.