COMPTIA, in Roman antiquity, an assembly of the people, either in the Comilium or Campus llartius, for the election of magistrates, or consulting on the important affairs of the republic. The people originally gave their votes vi•d voce, but in process of time this was su perseded by the use of tablets. The eomitia were of three kinds, distin guished by the epithets, Curiota, Cen turiata, and Tributa. 1. The comitia enriatis were the asseinblies of the pa trician houses or poplins; and in these, before the plebeians attained political importance, was vested the supreme pow er of the state. The name curiata was given because the people voted in curite, each curia giving a single vete represent ing the sentiments of the majority of the members composing it ; which was the manner in which the tribes and centuries also gave their suffrages in their respec tive comitia. After the institution of the comitia centuriat a, the functions of tho curinta were nearly confined to the elec tion of certain priests, and passing a law to confirm the dignities imposed by the people. 2. The eomitia emittiriata were
the assemblies of the whole Roman peo ple, including patricians, clients, and plebeians, in which they voted by cen turies. By the constitution of the cen turies, these cumin* were chiefly in tho hands of the plebeians, and so served ori ginally as a counterpoise to the powers of the comitia euriata, for which pur pbse they were first instilnted by the law giver king F-ervins Tullius. These coml. tia quie4ly oltt allied the chief importance, and public matters of the greatest mo ment were trAnsacted in theist; as the elections of consols, praetors, an I censors, and the passing laws and trials for high treason. 3. The eomitia tribut a were the asse mblies of the plebeian tribes. They were first instituted after the expulsion of the kings; and in them were trans acted matters pertaining to the plebeians alone, us the election of their tribunes and tediles.