Magistrates were typically chosen from the ranks of the patrician class, who were the wealthy landowners of Rome. However, in the mid-360s BC, the plebeians, who were the common people of Rome, won the right to hold office. The first plebeian consul was Lucius Sextius Lateranus, who was elected in 366 BC.
Magistrates played a crucial role in the Roman Republic. They were responsible for maintaining order and stability in the city-state and for ensuring that the laws were enforced. The magistrates also played an important role in foreign affairs, negotiating treaties with other states and leading the Roman army in war.
The magistrates were essential to the functioning of the Roman Republic, and their power and authority were carefully defined by the Roman constitution. The system of magistracies was a key feature of the Republic, and it helped to ensure that the government was accountable to the people.