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Roman Senate
Roman Senate - Selection
of Senators
The Romans who would act as
Senators were first chosen into the Roman Senate by the
kings, and after their expulsion, by the consuls and by the
military tribunes and from 310BC by the censors. At first
Roman Senators were chosen only from the Patricians, but
eventually from the Plebeians, chiefly from the
Equites.
Roman Senate -
Qualification of Senators
To qualify for the role of
Senator the person had to meet certain criteria:
They had to be rich - with an
an estate worth 400, or after Augustus, 1200 sestertia *** No person was admitted to the
Roman Senate unless they had already served in some form of some
magistracy in the Commonwealth *** No person was admitted to the
Roman Senate unless they over 30 years old
Assembling the Roman Senate
- Where the Senate originally met
The dictator, consuls,
praetors, tribunes of the commons and interrex, had the
power of assembling the Roman Senate. The places where the
met were only those that had formerly been consecrated by
the augurs, called a senate house known as the curia, most
commonly within the city of Rome. They also made use of the
Temple of Bellona, which was outside the city walls walls,
for the giving audience to foreign ambassadors, and to such
provincial magistrates as were to be heard in open Senates,
before they entered the city, as when they petitioned for a
triumph, and in similar cases.
The Forum
The forum was the center of
Roman political life and the curia (senate house) was part
of it. More specifically, in the forum was the comitium, an
area where the assembly met. It was originally a rectangular
space aligned with the cardinal points (North, South, East
and West).
How was the Roman Senate
originally summoned?
The Roman Senate was
originally summoned by a public officer named a viator, who
called the Roman Senators from the country, or by a public
crier, when anything had happened about which the Senators
were to be consulted hastily and without delay: but in
latter times by an edict, appointing the time and place, and
published several days before. The cause of assembling was
also added.
Regular Meetings of the Roman Senate
The regular meetings (senatus
legitimus) were on the Kalends, Nones, and Ides in every
month, until the time of Augustus, who confined them to the
Kalends and Ides.
The
Kalends was the first day of the month, from which the
word "calendar" is derived *** The Nones - thought to
have been the day of the half moon *** The Ides - thought to have originally been the day of the
full moon. The word ides comes from Latin, meaning
"half division" (of a month), the Ides was either
the 13th or the 15th of the month
If any one refused or neglected to
attend, he was punished by a fine, and by seizing his goods,
unless he had a just excuse. The fine was imposed by him who
held the Senate, and pledges were taken till it was paid,
but after 60 years of age, Senators might attend or not, as
they pleased.
Roman Senate -
Quorum
No decree could be made by
the Roman Senate unless there was a quorum. A quorum is the
minimum participation required to constitute a valid vote.
However the actual number is uncertain. It is therefore not
known how many senators constituted a quorum. The Roman
Senate was divided into decuries (groups of ten), each led
by a patrician (therefore requiring that there would be at
least 30 patrician senators at any given time). If any one
wanted to hinder the passing of a decree, and suspected
there was not a quorum, he said to the magistrate presiding,
“Numera Senatum,” count the Senate.
Roman Senate -
Religious Ceremonies
The magistrate who was to preside over the Roman Senate
offered a sacrifice, and took the auspices before he entered
the Senate house. If they were not favorable, or not rightly
taken, the business was deferred to another day. Augustus
ordered that each Senator, before he took his seat, should
pay his devotions with an offering of frankincense and wine,
at the altar of that god in whose temple the Senate were
assembled, that they might discharge their duty the more
religiously.
Roman Senate - The Consuls
When the consuls entered,
the Senators commonly rose up to do them honor. The consuls
were the first to be asked their opinion followed by the
praetors, tribunes who appeared to have had the same
preference before the rest of their order. He who held the
Roman Senate, might consult first any one of the same order
he thought proper. Nothing could be laid before the Roman
Senate against the will of the consuls, unless by the
tribunes of the people, who might also give their negative
against any decree by the solemn word “Veto”.
Roman Senate - The
Senators
The Roman Senators
delivered their opinions standing; but when they only
accepted the opinion of another they continued sitting. It
was not lawful for the consuls to interrupt those who
spoke.The Roman Senators usually addressed the house by the
title of “patres conscripti:” sometimes to the consul, or
person who presided, sometimes to both.
A Decree of the Roman Senate
A decree of the Roman
Senate was made, by a separation of the Senators, to
different parts of the house. He who presided, said, “Let
those who are of such an opinion pass over to that side,
those who think differently, to this.” Those Roman Senators
who only voted, but did not speak, or as some say, had the
right of voting, but not of speaking, were called pedarii,
because they signified their opinion by their feet, and not
by their tongues. When a decree was made without any opinion
being asked or given, it was called “senatus consultum per
discessionem.” But if the contrary, it was simply called
“Senatus consultum.” In decreeing a supplication to any
general, the opinion of the Senators was always asked.
Before the vote was put, and while the debate was going on,
the members used to take their seats near that person whose
opinion they approved, and the opinion of him who was joined
by the greatest number was called “Sententia maxime frequens.”
A Decree of the Roman Senate
When affairs requiring
secrecy were discussed, the clerks and other attendants were
not admitted to the meeting of the Roman Senate. In these
circumstances what was passed, was written out by some of
the Senators. This type of decree was called tacitum. In
writing a decree, the time and place were put first; then,
the names of those who were present and then the motion with
the name of the magistrate who proposed it and ended with
what the Roman Senate decreed. Decrees of the Roman Senate
were rarely reversed. While a question was under debate,
every one was at freedom to express his dissent; but when
once determined, it was looked upon as the common concern of
each member to support the opinion of the majority.
Records of Decrees passed
by the Roman Senate
Public registers were kept
of what was done in the Roman Senate, in the assemblies of
the people, and courts of justice; also of births and
funerals, of marriages and divorces. The decrees were kept
in the public treasury situated in the
Roman Forum with the laws and other writings
relating to the republic. Originally they were kept in the
temple of Ceres and then in the temple of Saturn. The state
treasury was called the Aerarium and housed the public laws
engraved on brass, the decrees of the Senate and other
papers and registers of importance. The place where the public records were
kept was called “Tabularium.” The decrees of the Roman
Senate concerning the honors conferred on Caesar were
inscribed in golden letters, on columns of silver.
Authority and Power
of the Roman Senate
The authority and powers of
the Roman Senate encompassed many areas of Roman Life.
Although the decrees of the Roman Senate had not properly
the force of the law and took place chiefly in those matters
which were not provided for by the law, they were always
understood to be binding and were therefore obeyed by all
orders. The consuls themselves were obliged to submit to
them. Decrees could be annulled or cancelled only by the
Roman Senate itself.
Religion and the Roman
Senate
The Senate assumed to themselves exclusively, the guardianship of
the public religion; so that no new god could be introduced, nor
altar erected, nor the Sybiline books consulted without their order.
***
Finances and the Roman
Senate
They had the direction of the treasury, and distributed the public
money at pleasure. They appointed the salary or allowance to their
generals and officers, and provisions and clothing to the armies. ***
New Appointments made by
the Roman Senate
They settled the provinces which were annually assigned to the
consuls and praetors, and when it seemed fit, they prolonged their
command. They nominated, out of their own body, all ambassadors sent
from Rome, and gave to foreign ambassadors what answers they thought
proper. ***
Honors and Enemies
They decreed all public thanksgivings for victories obtained, and
conferred the honor of an ovation or triumph with the title of
imperator on their victorious generals. They could decree the title
of king to any prince whom they pleased, and declare any one an
enemy by a vote. ***
Crime and Punishment
decreed by the Roman Senate
The Roman Senate inquired into all public crimes or treasons,
either in Rome or other parts of Italy; and adjusted all disputes
among the allied and dependent cities. They exercised a power not
only of interpreting the laws, but of absolving men from the
obligation of them. They could postpone the assemblies of the
people, and give orders in cases of any imminent danger or calamity.
In instances of civil dissension or dangerous tumults within the
city absolute power was granted to them to punish and put to death
whom they pleased without a trial; to raise forces and carry on war,
without the order of the people.
Roman Senate
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