[597] Cic. ad Att. ix. 9, 3 “in libris (i.e. the augural books) habemus non modo consules a praetore, sed ne praetores quidem creari jus esse.”
[598] p. 47.
[599] p. 47.
[600] See the section on the magistracy (p. 165).
[601] Cic. de Leg. iii. 3, 9 “ast quando consoles magisterve populi (i.e. dictator) nec escunt, auspicia patrum sunto, ollique ex se produnto qui comitiatu creare consules rite possint”; ad Brut. i. 5, 4 “dum unus erit patricius magistratus, auspicia ad patres redire non possunt.”
[602] In 43 B.C., on the deaths of Hirtius and Pansa, this communication could not be made in time. Hence the extraordinary measure of appointing two privati with consularis potestas to hold the election for the consulship (Dio Cass, xlvi. 45).
[603] The senatus consultum containing this suggestion might be vetoed by one of the tribunes. Ascon, in Milon. p. 32 “dum ... Pompeius ... et T. Munatius tr. pl. referri ad senatum de patriciis convocandis qui interregem proderent non essent passi.”
[604] p. 47.
[605] Liv. v. 31, 8 “interrex creatur M. Furius Camillus.”
[606] The technical expression prodere interregem refers in Republican times, not only to the appointment of the first interrex by election, but to the nomination of each of the other interreges by his predecessor (Liv. vi. 41; v. 31).