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==Origin==
==Origin==
[[Latin]], [[Roman]] [[magistrate]], from censēre to give as one's [[opinion]], assess; perhaps akin to [[Sanskrit]] śaṁsati he praises
[[Latin]], [[Roman]] [[magistrate]], from censēre to give as one's [[opinion]], assess; perhaps akin to [[Sanskrit]] śaṁsati he praises
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1526]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1526]
==Definitions==
==Definitions==
*1: a [[person]] who supervises [[conduct]] and [[morals]]: as a : an official who examines [[materials]] (as publications or films) for objectionable matter
*1: a [[person]] who supervises [[conduct]] and [[morals]]: as a : an official who examines [[materials]] (as publications or films) for objectionable matter
*3: a hypothetical [[psychic]] [[agency]] that represses unacceptable notions before they reach [[consciousness]]
*3: a hypothetical [[psychic]] [[agency]] that represses unacceptable notions before they reach [[consciousness]]
==Description==
==Description==
The '''censor''' was an officer in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome ancient Rome] who was responsible for [[maintaining]] the [[census]], supervising [[public]] [[morality]], and overseeing certain aspects of the [[government]]'s [[finances]].
The '''censor''' was an officer in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome ancient Rome] who was responsible for [[maintaining]] the [[census]], supervising [[public]] [[morality]], and overseeing certain aspects of the [[government]]'s [[finances]].
The censors' [[regulation]] of [[public]] [[morality]] is the [[origin]] of the [[modern]] [[meaning]] of the words "censor" and "censorship."
The censors' [[regulation]] of [[public]] [[morality]] is the [[origin]] of the [[modern]] [[meaning]] of the words "censor" and "censorship."
==Attributes==
==Attributes==
The censorship differed from all other [[Roman]] magistracies in the length of office. The censors were originally chosen for a whole lustrum (the period of five years), but as early as ten years after its [[institution]] (433 BC) their office was limited to eighteen months by a [[law]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dictator dictator] Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus. The censors were also [[unique]] with respect to rank and [[dignity]]. They had no [[imperium]], and accordingly no [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lictor lictors]. Their rank was granted to them by the Centuriate Assembly, and not by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curia ''curiae''], and in that [[respect]] they were inferior in power to the consuls and praetors.
The censorship differed from all other [[Roman]] magistracies in the length of office. The censors were originally chosen for a whole lustrum (the period of five years), but as early as ten years after its [[institution]] (433 BC) their office was limited to eighteen months by a [[law]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dictator dictator] Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus. The censors were also [[unique]] with respect to rank and [[dignity]]. They had no [[imperium]], and accordingly no [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lictor lictors]. Their rank was granted to them by the Centuriate Assembly, and not by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curia ''curiae''], and in that [[respect]] they were inferior in power to the consuls and praetors.
Notwithstanding this, the censorship was regarded as the highest [[dignity]] in the [[state]], with the exception of the dictatorship; it was a "[[sacred]] magistracy" (sanctus magistratus), to which the deepest [[reverence]] was due. The high rank and dignity which the censorship obtained was due to the various important [[duties]] gradually entrusted to it, and especially to its possessing the regimen morum, or general [[control]] over the [[conduct]] and the [[morals]] of the [[citizens]]. In the exercise of this [[power]], they were regulated solely by their own views of [[duty]], and were not [[responsible]] to any other [[power]] in the [[state]].
Notwithstanding this, the censorship was regarded as the highest [[dignity]] in the [[state]], with the exception of the dictatorship; it was a "[[sacred]] magistracy" (sanctus magistratus), to which the deepest [[reverence]] was due. The high rank and dignity which the censorship obtained was due to the various important [[duties]] gradually entrusted to it, and especially to its possessing the regimen morum, or general [[control]] over the [[conduct]] and the [[morals]] of the [[citizens]]. In the exercise of this [[power]], they were regulated solely by their own views of [[duty]], and were not [[responsible]] to any other [[power]] in the [[state]].
The censors possessed of course the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curule_chair curule chair]" (sella curulis), but there is some [[doubt]] with respect to their official dress. A well-known passage of Polybius describes the use of the ''imagines'' at funerals; we may conclude that a consul or praetor wore the purple-bordered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toga_praetexta ''toga praetexta''], one who triumphed the embroidered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toga_picta ''toga picta''], and the censor a purple toga peculiar to him; but other writers speak of their official dress as being the same as that of the other higher magistrates. The [[funeral]] of a censor was always conducted with great pomp and splendour, and hence a "censorial funeral" (''funus censorium'') was voted even to the emperors.
The censors possessed of course the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curule_chair curule chair]" (sella curulis), but there is some [[doubt]] with respect to their official dress. A well-known passage of Polybius describes the use of the ''imagines'' at funerals; we may conclude that a consul or praetor wore the purple-bordered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toga_praetexta ''toga praetexta''], one who triumphed the embroidered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toga_picta ''toga picta''], and the censor a purple toga peculiar to him; but other writers speak of their official dress as being the same as that of the other higher magistrates. The [[funeral]] of a censor was always conducted with great pomp and splendour, and hence a "censorial funeral" (''funus censorium'') was voted even to the emperors.
==Duties==
==Duties==
The [[duties]] of the censors may be divided into three classes, all of which were closely [[connected]] with one another:
The [[duties]] of the censors may be divided into three classes, all of which were closely [[connected]] with one another:
*1. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_census ''Census''], or register of the [[citizens]] and of their [[property]], in which were included the [[reading]] of the Senate's lists (lectio senatus) and the [[recognition]] of who qualified for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equites equestrian] rank (recognitio equitum);
*1. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_census ''Census''], or register of the [[citizens]] and of their [[property]], in which were included the [[reading]] of the Senate's lists (lectio senatus) and the [[recognition]] of who qualified for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equites equestrian] rank (recognitio equitum);
*2. The ''Regimen Morum'', or keeping of the [[public]] [[morals]]; and
*2. The ''Regimen Morum'', or keeping of the [[public]] [[morals]]; and
*3. The administration of the finances of the state, under which were classed the superintendence of the public buildings and the erection of all new public works.
*3. The administration of the finances of the state, under which were classed the superintendence of the public buildings and the erection of all new public works.
The original business of the censorship was at first of a much more [[limited]] kind, and was restricted almost entirely to taking the [[census]], but the [[possession]] of this [[power]] gradually brought with it fresh power and new [[duties]].. A general view of these duties is briefly expressed in the following passage of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Cicero]: "Censores populi aevitates, soboles, familias pecuniasque censento: urbis templa, vias, aquas, aerarium, vectigalia tuento: populique partes in tribus distribunto: exin pecunias, aevitates, ordines patiunto: equitum, peditumque prolem describunto: caelibes esse prohibento: mores populi regunto: probrum in senatu ne relinquunto."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_censor]
The original business of the censorship was at first of a much more [[limited]] kind, and was restricted almost entirely to taking the [[census]], but the [[possession]] of this [[power]] gradually brought with it fresh power and new [[duties]].. A general view of these duties is briefly expressed in the following passage of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Cicero]: "Censores populi aevitates, soboles, familias pecuniasque censento: urbis templa, vias, aquas, aerarium, vectigalia tuento: populique partes in tribus distribunto: exin pecunias, aevitates, ordines patiunto: equitum, peditumque prolem describunto: caelibes esse prohibento: mores populi regunto: probrum in senatu ne relinquunto."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_censor]
[[Category: Law]]
[[Category: Law]]