Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SENATUS. S1EN. ATUS. 1(121
-senator when called upon to speak might do so at I received the jus relationis. (Dion Cass. lv. 3.) The
full length, and even introduce subjects not directly mode of conducting the business, and the order-in
connected with the point at issue. (Cic. de Leg. which the senators were called upon to vote, reiii. 18; Gellius, iv. 10; Tacit. Annal. ii. 38, xiii. mnained on the whole the same as under the re39; compare Cic. Philip. vii.) It depended public (Plin. Epist. viii. 14, ix. 13); but when
upon the president which of the opinions expressed mIagistrates were to be elected, the senate, as inl
he would put to the vote, and which he would former times the comitia, gave their votes in secret
pass over. (Polyb. xxxiii. 1; Cic. ad _Faol. i. 2, with little tablets. (Plin. ]Epist. iii. 20, xi. 5.)
x. 12; Caes. B. C. i. 2.) Those men who were The transactions of the senate were from the time
not yet real senators, but had only a seat in the of Caesar registered by clerks appointed for the
senate on account of the office they held, or had purpose, under the superintendence of a senator.
held, had no right to vote (Gellius, xiii. 8.) When (Suet. Caes. 20, Auy. 36; Tacit. Annal v. 4, &c.;
a Senatusconsultum was passed, the consuls ordered Spart. HIadl'ina, 3; Dion Cass. lxxviii. 22.) In
it to be written down by a clerk in the presence of cases which required secrecy (senatusconsultiloe
solne senators, especially of those who had been tacituzn), the senators themselves officiated as
most interested in it or most active in bringing it clerks. (Capitol. Goe-d. 20.)
about. (Polyb. vi. 12; Clc. de Orat. iii. 2, ad As the Roman emperor concentrated in his own
enfar.. viii. 8.) [SENAvTUSCONSULaxTUM.] A meet- person all the powers which had formerly been
img of the senate was not allowed to be held be- possessed by the several magistrates, and iwithout
fore sunrise or to be prolonged after sunset (Varro, limitation or responsibility, it is clear that the
up?. Gell. 1. c.): on extraordinary emergencies, how- senate in its admninistrative powers was dependent
ever, this regulation was set aside. (Dionys, iii. upon the emperor, who might avail himself of its
17; Macrob. ~Sat. i. 4.) counsels or not, just as he pleased. In the reign
During the latter part of the republic the senate of Tiberius the election of magistrates was transwas degraded in various ways by Sulla, Caesar, ferred from the people to the senate (Vell. Pat. ii.
and others, and on many occasions it was only an 124; Tacit. Anrnal. i. 15; Plin. Epist. iii. 20, vi.
instrument in the hands of the men in power. In 19), which, however, was enjoined to take especial
this way it became prepared for the despotic go- notice of those candidates who were recommended
vernment of the emperors, when it was altogether to it by the emperor. This regulation remained,
the creature and obedient instrument of the. prin- with a short interruption in the reign of Caligula,
ceps. The emperor himself was generally also down to the third century, when we find that the
princeps senatus (Dion Cass. liii. 1, lvii. 8, lxxiii. princeps alone exercised the right of appointing
5), and had the power of convoking both ordinary magistrates. (Dig. 48. tit. 14. s. 1.) At the deand extraordinary meetings (Dion Cass. liv. 3; mise of an emperor the senate had the right to
Lex de imperio Vespas.), although the consuls, appoint his successor, in case no one had been
praetors, and tribunes, continued to have the same nominated by the emperor himself; but the senate
right. (Tacit. Hist. iv. 39; Dion Cass. lvi. 47, lix. had in very rare cases an opportunity to exercise
241, x. 16, &c.) The ordinary meetings according this right, as it was usurped by the soldiers. The
to a regulation of Augustus were held twice in aerarium at first still continued nominally to be
every month. (Suet. Acug. 35; Dion Cass. lv. 3.) under the control of the senate (Dion Cass. liii. 16,
A full assembly required the presence of at least 22), but the emperors gradually took it under their
400 members, but Augustus himself afterwards own exclusive management (Dion Cass. lxxi. 33;
modified this rule according to the difference and Vopisc. Aurel. 9, 12, 20), and the senate retained
importance of the subjects which might be brought nothing but the administration of the funds of the
nsnder discussion. (Dion Cass. liv. 35, iv. 3.) At city (area publica), which were distinct both from
a later period we find that seventy or even fewer the aerarium and from the fiscus (Vopisc. Azelel.
senators constituted an assembly. (Lamprid. Al. 20, 45), and the right of giving its opinion upon
Sevelr. 16.) The regular president in the assembly cases connected with the fiscal law. (Dig. 49. tit.
was a consul, or the emperor himself, if he was 14. s. 15 and 42.) Its right of coining money
invested with the consulship. (Plin. Epist. ii. 11, was limited by Augustus to copper coins, and
Ponegyr. 76.) At extraordinary meetings, the person ceased altogether in the reign of Gallienus. (Eckwho convoked the senate xwas at the same time its hel, D. NV. Proleg. c. 13.) Augustus ordained that
president. The emperor, however, even when he did no accusations should any longer be brought before
not preside, had by virtue of his office of tribune, the comitia (Dion Cass. lri. 40), and instead of
the right to introduce any subject for discussion, them he raised the senate to a high court of justice,
and to makle the senate decide upon it. (DioI Cass. upon which he conferred the right of taking co,liii. 32; Lex de imperio Vespas.) At a later nizance of capital offences comim-itted by senators
period this right was expressly and in proper form (Dion Cass. lii. 31, &c.; Suet. Caljq. 2; Tacit.
conferred upon the emperor under the name of jous Annal. xiii. 44; Capitol. 1..7 Antonin. 10), of
eelationis, and accordingly as he obtained the right crimes againlst the state and the person of the emto introduce three or more subjects, the jus was perors (Dion Cass. lii. 15, 17, 22, ix. 16, lxxvi.
called jlss lettiie, quzlctae, qitntae, e &C. elcationis. 8; Suet. Aug. 66; Tacit. Annzl. iii. 49, &c.), and
(Vopisc. PI'ob. 12; J. Capitol. Pestin. 5, l. Az- of crimes committed by the provincial magistrates
tozisz. 6; Lamllprid. Al. Sev. 1.) The emperor in- in the administration of their provinces. The
troduced his proposals to the senate in writing senate might also receive appeals from other courts
(oertio, libellems, epistola princijis), which was read (Suet. Nero, 17; Tacit. Assnal. xiv. 28; Capitol.
in the senate by one of his quaestors. (Dion Cass. A11 Antolnin. 10; Vopisc. Pirob. i 3), whereas, at
liv. 25, lx. 2; Suet. A#y. 65, Tit. 6; Tacit. Assasci. least from the time of Hadrian, there was no apxxi. 27; Dig. 1. tit. 13. s. 1. ~~ 2 and 4.) [ORA- peal from a sentence of the senate. (Dion Ctss.
TIONES PRINCIPUAT.] The praetors, that they lix. 1 8; Dig. 49. tit. 2. s. i. ~ 2.) The princeps
might not be;hferior to the tribunes, likewjse sometimes referred cases which were not contain-ed