List of Roman laws

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This is an attempted alphabetical List of Roman laws. The name of the law is usually the gens of the legislator, declined on the female form (because in latin language law - lex, plural leges - is a word with female gender). When a law is the initiative of the two consuls, is given the name of the two, with the senior consul gens signalled first. Sometimes, a short description of the content of the law is added.

See also: Roman law

Note - The list is very incomplete: you can help Wikinfo by adding laws to it.

Contents

Roman laws

General denominations

  • Lex agraria � A law regulating distribution of public lands
  • Lex annalis - qualifications for magistracies
  • Lex frumentaria � A law regulating price of grain
  • Lex sumptuaria � A law regulating the use of luxury items and public manifestations of wealth

Special laws

  • Senatus consultum � A Senate decree
  • Senatus consultum de re publica defenda (see note 1) � Literally Senate decree for the defence of the Republic. Issued by the senate in cases of extreme peril for the republic, usually to deal with internal political violence. The first decree was issued in 121 BC, due to riots provoked by Gaius Gracchus.
  • Twelve Tables � The first set of Roman laws published by the Decemviri in 451 BC, which would be the starting point of the elaborate Roman constitution. The twelve tables covered issues of civil, criminal and military law. Every Roman that went to school was supposed to know them by heart.

Notes

  • Note 1 � The word Republic derives from the Latin res publica (literally, public thing). The Romans often wrote the two words as one, respublica and inflected both words.


References

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