You are dictator, Caius Livius Drusus, an extraordinary but official magistrate of the res publica Romana.

I am a tribunus plebis, an official officer of the plebs Romana.

The office of the tribunes had been created long ago to represent the interests of the plebs - as an office out of the control of the magistrates of the res publica. It has been created with the power to act without and in case of need AGAINST magistrate orders and also against dictatorial orders and decrees.

And you believe you are able to remove us tribunes from office? You believe you can order us to retire?

Ask the decemviri who wrote down the duodecim tabulae. They tried but they had no civil power nor imperium over the tribunes.

Ask Dictator M. Furius Camillus. He had no power over the tribunes Licinius and Sextus who opened the Consulat for plebeians.

Ask Dictator Hortensius, who proposed the Lex Hortensia. He had to negotiate with the tribunes but he had no power over them.


If there is anyone who has any powers then the plebeian assembly, but of course no dictator.
Drusus, you are dictator. You have no legal powers to remove us Tribunes of the Plebs from our office.
We tribunes remain tribunes until the next collegium is elected and sworn.


And the other argument: Well. Of course. Voting begun. Voting begun half a day after you published your decree.



ooc: I prefered to argue ingame. The office of the tribunes was created explicit as a formal institute AGAINST the magistrates and AGAINST magistrates orders a magistrate cannot remove the tribunes from office. They're outside of their influence - and as the history of the early republic shows also outside the influence of a dictator. At least this is what the annalists of the 2. Century b.c. and 1. Century b.c. believed.

Fabio?