What were the roles and terms of office of tribunes?

Answer 1

There were two types of tribunes in Rome, whose office was annual:

Tribune of the Plebs - these sat in the Senate and could introduce and veto legislation, so ensuring that there could be no hostile action by the Patricians against the Plebs. After their year, they became senators, which saw a growing number of senators of plebeian status.

Military Tribunes - they filled administrative and command positions in the army.

Answer 2

All Roman terms of office were for one year. At first counsuls were responsible for war, justice and finance, but in time other offices were added to cover finance and justice. Each counsul could override the other and was supposed to be advised by the senate. He had to be a minimum age of 43 to run for the office and it was supposed to be ten years before he could be elected to the office a second time. After his term of office expired he was usually give a province to govern as procounsul, which could be lucrative. He could also be tried for any misdeeds he may have done while in office.

The tribunes were officials who were supposed to represent the interest of the plebeians. They had a seat in the senate and had a power of veto over any proposal except that of a dictator.

The Roman senate was a consulting body and the senators were members of this body. They actually had no legal power, but were there to advise. As they were not elected officials as such, a senator could hold his position for life, providing he adhered to the Roman standard of society.

The assemblymen were the voters of the various tribes. They elected the public officials.