In the early republic, a prefect of the city (praefectus urbi) was appointed by the consuls to act in the consuls’ absence from Rome. The position lost much of its importance temporarily after the mid-4th century bc, when the consuls began to appoint praetors to act in the consuls’ absence.
The Prefect System is a leadership experience. The system identifies leaders, lets them practise leadership through responsibility for discipline in order to take these skills with them into adult life.
