 The office originally granted the holder the ability to speak first at session on the topic presented by the presiding magistrate, but eventually gained the power to open and close the senate sessions, decide the agenda, decide where the session should take place, impose order and other rules of the session, meet in the name of the senate with embassies of foreign countries, and write in the name of the senate letters and dispatches.This office, like the Tribune, did not own "imperium", was not escorted by lictors, and could not wear the "toga praetexta".Of all the offices within the Roman Republic, none granted as much power and authority as the position of "dictator", known as the Master of the People.