Cursus honorum

The cursus honorum (career of honor) was the political career in Rome. You had to move from the lowest office up to the highest office (consul). Their were strict rules and conditions to be a magistrate. But as the title says, the cursus honorum was meant to be honorable. The result:the magistrate had to pay all his costs during his term of office ( The government should pay it now

The hierarchy is ranked from the lowest to the highest office

1. Qaestor: Minimum age: 31
he had to collect money (Quaerere means to seek, to collect
        
Amount: 2 in the begining, 20 in the late republic

2. Aedilus

3. Praetor

4. Consul

(5. Dictator)