Δεν υπάρχει στα αγγλοελληνικά λεξικά η ιστορική σημασία του magistrate. Στους ρωμαϊκούς χρόνους ο magistratus είναι εκλεγμένος αξιωματούχος. Νομίζω ότι η ελληνική απόδοση του όρου είναι άρχοντας, αλλά θα ήθελα να ακούσω τη γνώμη ατόμων που παρακολουθούν ελληνική βιβλιογραφία. Θέλει προσοχή επειδή ο αγγλικός όρος magistrate χρησιμοποιείται για να περιγράψει αξιωματούχους στα παλιότερα χρόνια και όχι δικαστές και ειρηνοδίκες.
The Roman magistrates were elected officials in Ancient Rome. During the period of the Roman Kingdom, the King of Rome was the principal executive magistrate. His power, in practice, was absolute. He was the chief priest, lawgiver, judge, and the sole commander of the army. When the king died, his power reverted to the Roman Senate, which then chose an Interrex to facilitate the election of a new king. During the transition from monarchy to republic, the constitutional balance of power shifted from the executive (the Roman king) to the Roman Senate. When the Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC, the powers that had been held by the king were transferred to the Roman consuls, of which two were to be elected each year. Magistrates of the republic were elected by the People of Rome, and were each vested with a degree of power, called "major powers" (maior potestas). Dictators had more "major powers" than any other magistrate, and after the Dictator was the censor, and then the consul, and then the praetor, and then the curule aedile, and then the quaestor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_magistrate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_magistrates_of_the_Roman_Empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_magistrates_of_the_Roman_Republic
The Roman magistrates were elected officials in Ancient Rome. During the period of the Roman Kingdom, the King of Rome was the principal executive magistrate. His power, in practice, was absolute. He was the chief priest, lawgiver, judge, and the sole commander of the army. When the king died, his power reverted to the Roman Senate, which then chose an Interrex to facilitate the election of a new king. During the transition from monarchy to republic, the constitutional balance of power shifted from the executive (the Roman king) to the Roman Senate. When the Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC, the powers that had been held by the king were transferred to the Roman consuls, of which two were to be elected each year. Magistrates of the republic were elected by the People of Rome, and were each vested with a degree of power, called "major powers" (maior potestas). Dictators had more "major powers" than any other magistrate, and after the Dictator was the censor, and then the consul, and then the praetor, and then the curule aedile, and then the quaestor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_magistrate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_magistrates_of_the_Roman_Empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_magistrates_of_the_Roman_Republic
