- There were two consuls elected each year, and they held office for one year.
- Technically the consuls were considered equals (colleagues), they took turns exercising the full powers of office on alternate months, and a consul could veto any action proposed by his colleague.
- The Roman Republic was founded after the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy, and the early consuls may have been modeled on those Etruscan kings.
- In Rome the consuls took precedence over all other magistrates.
- While the consuls were in office, they were not allowed to leave the city of Rome except in their military capacity as commanders of the Roman legions.
- The consuls had two lictors with fasces in the city of Rome, and twelve when travelling in the provinces or leading the army.
There were certain duties which the consuls were obliged to perform, and one of the most striking of these was the holding of the regular levy (delectus) every year for the formation of the Roman legions. At the same time the consuls would address the people, announcing the enemies against whom the state had to be defended.
As soon as the campaign had begun, military matters were regulated by the ius militare. The consuls had absolute power over their men, including the power of life and death, and any act of disobedience (even on the part of military tribunes and legati) was punishable as a military offence.
While the consuls were commanders-in-chief, the Senate would nevertheless keep an eye on their decisions, and sometimes it even sent commissioners (legati) to supervise (or constrain) the proceedings of a Roman general.