<P> The senate of the Roman kingdom held three principal responsibilities: It functioned as the ultimate repository for the executive power, it served as the king's council, and it functioned as a legislative body in concert with the people of Rome . During the years of the monarchy, the senate's most important function was to elect new kings . While the king was technically elected by the people, it was actually the senate who chose each new king . </P> <P> The period between the death of one king, and the election of a new king, was called the interregnum, during which time the Interrex nominated a candidate to replace the king . After the senate gave its initial approval to the nominee, he was then formally elected by the people, and then received the senate's final approval . At least one king, Servius Tullius, was elected by the senate alone, and not by the people . </P> <P> The senate's most significant task, outside regal elections, was to function as the king's council, and while the king could ignore any advice it offered, its growing prestige helped make the advice that it offered increasingly difficult to ignore . Technically, the senate could also make new laws, although it would be incorrect to view the senate's decrees as "legislation" in the modern sense . Only the king could decree new laws, although he often involved both the senate and the curiate assembly (the popular assembly) in the process . </P> <P> When the Republic began, the Senate functioned as an advisory council . It consisted of 300--500 Senators, who were initially patrician and served for life . Before long, plebeians were also admitted, although they were denied the senior magistracies for a longer period . </P>

What was the usual order in which the major senatorial offices were held