The city-state also developed in the Italian Peninsula. In her early political organization, Rome had a king , a council of chiefs or senate ,and a popular assembly (comitia curiata). During the Period of the Republic,many of theking's power were transferred to a body of men called consuls, censors and praetors . Legislation rested with the senate . Under the expansion of the Empire the system of Roman la spread throughout the conquered territories. Rome's contribution to political thought was more in her legal institutions than in her political theories