WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Plebeian Council elected two plebeian officers, the tribunes and the aediles, and thus Roman law classified these two officers as the elected representatives of the plebeians. As such, they acted as the presiding officers of this assembly.

Detailed explanation-2: -In time, the plebeians gained the right to elect their own officials, called tribunes, to protect their interests. The tribunes could veto, or block, those laws that they felt were harmful to plebeians.

Detailed explanation-3: -From 471 bc the tribunes of the plebs were elected in the plebeian assembly (concilium plebis), over which they presided, and thus could express, and agitate for, plebeian demands.

Detailed explanation-4: -The most significant power in their hands, however, was to veto the actions of the consuls and other magistrates, thus protecting the interests of the plebeians. The tribunes of the plebs were sacrosanct, meaning that any assault on their person was punishable by death.