There were three organs of public administration in Pompei:
the popular assembly, i.e., the pòpulus; the council of decurions, called the òrdo decuriònum; and four administrators: two duòviri iùre dicùndo and two aèdiles.
The pòpulus, composed of free male citizens, elected the magistrates and public priests, and ratified the deliberations of the Council of decurions. This council held powers of deliberation and control over all sectors of public life. The members of the council had to enjoy a good reputation, practice an honorable profession, and be rich enough to pay their own expenses of entertaining and ceremonial.
The higher magistrates, the duòviri iùre dicùndo, were elected every year. They called together and presided over the assemblies of the people and administered justice. They were responsible for the city finances.
Every five years, in their place, were elected the duòviri quinquennales, who besides the duties just mentioned, checked the fiscal and administrative situation of the city and verified if the individual decurions had maintained the requisite conditions for office.
The aediles, who were lower in rank than those already mentioned, were elected every year and had executive power. They saw to the maintenance of public buildings and roads, controlled the markets and the municipal police service, and organized festivities at their own expense and at the expense of the community. We should keep in mind that the magistrates had no salary!
