Contio

The ''contio'' (; from Latin "conventio" meaning "gathering") was an ad hoc public assembly in Ancient Rome, which existed during the monarchy as well as in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. At the ''contio'', magistrates informed the Roman citizens on various topics related to politics. The main difference between the ''contio'' and other public assemblies in Rome, such as the ''comitia,'' is that the citizens who attended ''contiones'' were there to hear speeches and not to vote. The ''contio'' merely served a communicative function, offering magistrates the opportunity to give the people a report of what had been decided during a senate meeting or to discuss a proposed legislative bill (''rogatio'') in front of the citizens to help them make up their mind before they had to vote on it in other assemblies.

Magistrates also used the ''contio'' as a means of self-promotion, presenting themselves as capable and honest politicians who kept the interests of the people in mind (in other words, adhered to the ''popularis'' ideology), hoping to gain sympathy and support from the people. Aside from a political assembly, the word "''contio''" could also refer to a type of Roman military speech. Provided by Wikipedia