> The largely patrician (ruling class) Senate, meanwhile, had to contend with the tribunes of the plebs (citizens acting in an official governing capacity).  

TIL: Pleb can also mean something other than the dictionary definition, such as:

"a member of the plebs; a plebeian or commoner." 

and then

"Also pleb. (at the U.S. Military and Naval academies) a member of the freshman class."

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pleb