What was the role of consuls in roman republic?

Answer 1

In the new Roman republic, the former position of the "king" was replaced by Two Consuls that were appointed to hold executive powers. At that time, the consuls had to be patricians, and were elected for one year terms. The Consuls had great executive powers including command of the army.

In the new Roman Republic, the former position of the overthrown king was replaced by two annually elected Consuls to hold executive powers as heads of the Republic and the army. In the first twenty year of the Republic, 30% of the elected consuls who appeared in the fasti consulares (list of consuls) were plebeians (commoners). After that they were all patrician (aristocrats). The patricians came to monopolise power in what a historian has called the 'closing of the patriciate.' This later led to conflict between patricians and plebeians.

Answer 2

The consul held imperium (the power to command) and was one of the highest government offices, near the top of the cursus honorum (political ladder). Consuls were equivalent to the "heads of State", in charge of state affairs like warfare.

The cousulship was THE highest public office and THE top of the corsus honorum (apprenticeship in public office). In the early republic they were akin to kings and took all political decision. With the increase of the power of the senate decision-making was more shared. Imperium referred to the power to command the army. Consuls led the army in battle except for the periods when Rome was headed by military tribunes with consular power. They could delegate this command to praetors when these were instituted, as they also had imperium, but this was rare.

Answer 3

They acted as the chief executives of government.