The Curiate assembly () traditionally dates to the early monarchy, from 30 divisions of the city made by Romulus. By the middle Republic, it served only a symbolic purpose. At some point, the 30 "curiae" ceased to actually meet and were instead represented by 30 lictors. This assembly had authority over some elements of family law and ratified the "imperium" of elected magistrates and promagistrates through a "lex curiata de imperio". In the realm of family law, it was presided over by the "pontifex maximus". However, there was considerable debate in the late Republic on whether or not a magistrate's election actually required ratification by the "curiae", and by 212 BC, the Senate refrained from enforcing this quirk of precedent.