Session XXXII 29 January 2755
This is a report of a session of the Nova Roma Senate of a.d. IV Kal. Feb. ‡, M. Octavio L. Sulla (II) cos. ‡ MMDCCLV a.u.c..
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Senate action for 29 January 2755 as posted in the “old Tabularium” This is posted in place of a Tribunes report that has yet to be found. Tiberius Galerius Paulinus, Censor 9 August 2761 A.V.C.
Senate Voting Results Gnaeus Salix Astur et Marcus Arminius Maior, tribuni plebis, Quiritibus Novae Romae S.P.D. Ex Officio Tribunorum Plebis The Senate has finished its latest session, and the votes have been tallied.
The following 16 Senatores cast votes. They are referred to below by their initials, and are listed in alphabetical order by nomen:
Patricia Cassia (PC) Marcus Cassius Julianus (MCJ) Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (LCSF) Pompeia Cornelia Strabo (PCS) Lucius Equitius Cincinnatus (LEC) Quintus Fabius Maximus (QFM) Caius Flavius Diocletianus(CFD) Alexander Iulius Caesar Probus Macedonius (AICPM) Decius Iunius Palladius Invictus (DIPI) Marcus Iunius Iulianus (MII) Titus Labienus Fortunatus (TLF) Gaius Marius Merullus (GMM) Marcus Minucius Audens (MMA) Marcus Octavius Germanicus (MOG) Lucius Sergius Australicus Obstinatus (LSAO) Flavius Vedius Germanicus ((FVG)) The following Senatores did not vote:
Minervina Iucundia Flavia Gaius Tullius Triumphius Cicero Senator Antonius Gryllus Graecus cast his votes after the end of voting session, and so they are not included in the results One item needs 2/3 majority vote to be approved. With 16 Senatores voting, this 2/3 majority will be reached with at least 11 senatores voting UTI ROGAS (yes).
"UTI ROGAS" indicates a vote in favor of an item, "ANTIQUO" or "NEGAT" is a vote against, and "ABSTINEO" is an abstention. The items for consideration are as follows:
ITEM I: Feriae Latinae
By the recommendation of Pontifex
A. Gryllus Graecus, the date of the Feriae Latinae for this year is set as April 28th. April 29th and 30th shall be dies religiosi.
- PASSED* Unanimously. YES, 16; NO, 0; ABSTENTION, 0.
PC: UTI ROGAS. MJC: UTI ROGAS. Pontiff Graecus has done a fine job in setting this date accurately. LCSF: UTI ROGAS. PCS UTI ROGAS. LEC: UTI ROGAS. QFM UTI ROGAS. CFD: UTI ROGAS. AICPM: UTI ROGAS. DIPI: UTI ROGAS. MII UTI ROGAS. TLF: UTI ROGAS. CMM: UTI ROGAS. I vote to set the date according to the recommendation of A Gryllus Graecus Pontifex. MMA UTI ROGAS. MOG UTI ROGAS. LSAO: UTI ROGAS. (FVG) UTI ROGAS.
ITEM II: Budget Approval of the budget for MMDCCLV
as posted by Patricia Cassia in the Aerarium Saturni, and modified by G. Popillius Laenas. (This modification reserves one half of tax income for provincial use).http: //www.novaroma.org/aerarium_saturni/budget2755.html
- PASSED*. YES, 14; NO, 0; ABSTENTION, 2.
PC: UTI ROGAS. I also encourage this year's Consuls and Quaestores to do better than we did last year, and to approve the budget before Janus opens the door to 2003. MJC: UTI ROGAS. LCSF: UTI ROGAS. PCS UTI ROGAS. LEC: UTI ROGAS. QFM UTI ROGAS. CFD: UTI ROGAS. AICPM: UTI ROGAS. DIPI: ABSTINEO. I still have reservations about a specific amount of money being reserved to the provinces in absence of specific projects. I think money should be allocated by need to specific provinces, not a flat rate to them all. MII ABSTINEO. TLF: UTI ROGAS. CMM: UTI ROGAS. MMA UTI ROGAS. MOG UTI ROGAS. Although the budget doesn't specify exactly how provincial money is to be spent, I believe there is no point in attempting to determine that now -- we don't yet know how much income there will be, or which provinces it will come from. As required, we will be reserving half of the tax income for provincial use; so this budget satisfies that law. LSAO: UTI ROGAS. (FVG) UTI ROGAS.
Item III: Century Reduction
That the proposed amendment to the Constitution, allowing for fewer than 193 centuries, should be sent to the Comitia Centuriata for voting. This item constitutes a preliminary approval and not a final ratification.
- PASSED* YES, 12; NO, 4; ABSTENTION, 0.
PC: UTI ROGAS. MJC: UTI ROGAS. The passage of this measure will help to streamline our comitiae elections and voting. It should eliminate the need for runoff voting as happened this last election. LCSF: UTI ROGAS. PCS UTI ROGAS. LEC: ANTIQUO. I plan on voting no to this if it is brought to the citizens. I do not believe that it is wise to alter the voting system every time it is inconvenient. I understand the wish for this proposal, but I believe that we should just 'tough it out' until there are enough voting citizens to make such gerrymandering unnecessary. This proposal actually isn't necessary now, it's mostly the fault of uninterested 'citizen' who don't vote for whatever reason. Also, I am wondering how such a change to the constitution could be abused in the future. This is just the opinion of one stodgy Republican. QFM ANTIQUO. I feel it sets a dangerous precedent to change our voting system every time we run into a problem. That wasn't the way ancient Rome operated, and it is not the way we should react to every dilemma we face here. CFD: ANTIQUO. AICPM: UTI ROGAS. DIPI: UTI ROGAS. Palladius: Uti Rogas. Since it has been clarified that this is not a ratification presented out of order but merely a preliminary recommendation, I vote in favor of this. MII UTI ROGAS. TLF: UTI ROGAS. CMM: UTI ROGAS. I recommend that such a proposal, calling for no change except a numerical reduction in the centuries, to no fewer than 30, go before the centuries. Amendments to the constitution and revision of electoral process should be avoided, but so too should multiple run-off elections. It is really to eliminate such elections that I support this reduction. MMA UTI ROGAS. MOG UTI ROGAS. Hopefully this will reduce the number of "run-off" elections. LSAO: UTI ROGAS. (FVG) ANTIQUO.
Item IV: Patres Patriae
In recognition of their service as the founders of the Republic, F. Vedius Germanicus and M. Cassius Iulianus are each to be awarded the honorific "Pater Patriae.".
- PASSED*. YES, 14; NO, 0; ABSTENTION, 2.
PC: UTI ROGAS. MJC: ABSTINEO. LCSF: UTI ROGAS. PCS UTI ROGAS. LEC: UTI ROGAS. QFM UTI ROGAS. And well deserved. Without these two's vision, none of this we do today would have come forth. CFD: UTI ROGAS. AICPM: UTI ROGAS. DIPI: UTI ROGAS. This is an honor that is well deserved. MII UTI ROGAS. TLF: UTI ROGAS. CMM: UTI ROGAS. MMA UTI ROGAS. MOG UTI ROGAS. LSAO: UTI ROGAS. In recognition of their service as the founders of the Republic, F. Vedius Germanicus and M. Cassius Iulianus are each to be awarded the honorific "Pater Patriae".
(FVG) ABSTINEO.
Item V: Senator Removal
The Senate issues its advice on the criteria and procedures for removal of inactive Senators. The full text of this item is:
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Senatus Consultum on the Removal of Inactive Senators.
I. Senatorship in Nova Roma shall be for life, so long as a Senator maintains a minimum level of activity, as defined herein.
II. Level of Activity Required.
A. A Senator is required to cast votes in at least one third of the sessions of the Senate during any calendar year. Should he or she fail to do so, he or she may be removed at the option of the Censores.
B. Voting by proxy shall be considered acceptable for satisfying these requirements, if and only if the right of proxy is granted during the discussion period of the session for which proxy is granted.
III. Removal of a Senator.
A. The Censores are empowered to use their judgement when considering the removal of a Senator who has failed to maintain the minimum level of activity, and to either retain or remove that Senator at their option. The Censores should consider whether a valid excuse for failing to remain active has been offered.
B. The Senator to be removed has sixty days to appeal his or her removal to any magistrate capable of convening the Senate.
A 2/3rds supermajority of the Senate, excluding the Censores, is required to override the Censores and halt the removal.
C. An ex-Senator who has been removed may be later restored to the Senate by the Censores.
IV. Exemptions.
A. Censores, Consuls, and Praetores are exempt during their year in office, regardless of their participation level the previous year. Any Senator appointed less than six months before the end of the preceding year is exempt.
B. In recognition of their service to the Republic, any Senator who has completed a full term as Consul or Censor may be removed from the Senate if and only if he or she fails the test described in Section II for four consecutive years.
C. Any Senator who has served in the Senate for ten years is forever after exempt from removal for reason of inactivity.
V. This Senatus Consultum is the advice of the Senate to the Censores. A law based upon this Senatus Consultum, if passed by the Comitia, shall go into effect on the Kalends of Ianuarius MMDCCLVI auc (01 January 2003).
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- PASSED* YES, 11; NO, 4; ABSTENTION, 1.
PC: UTI ROGAS. I believe this is a necessary step forward. MJC: UTI ROGAS. The passage of this measure will help to ensure Senate participation and effectiveness. I hope to adopt a similar measure in the Collegium Pontificum shortly. LCSF: ABSTINEO. PCS UTI ROGAS. Uti Rogas: I am satisfied with the final amendments made to this consultum. I do not feel that it comprehensively expresses all the criteria in question in the assessment of Senatorial Conduct, but that in itself doesn't make this consultum incorrect or undesirable, as it reads. These additional ideas of which I speak can be addressed in future at a more ameniable time. LEC: UTI ROGAS. In addition to meeting standards for obtaining inclusion into the Senate there ought to be objective standards for maintaining membership therein. Relatively active citizenship and participation within Nova Roma shouldn't be too much to ask, in addition to being a positive example of the Virtutes Romani. QFM ANTIQUO. Not only is it against our mos maiorum, but I feel sets a dangerous bias. You were rewarded for your work in the government by a seat in the Curia house. Now by removing the word "for life" you completely change the original idea and replace it with a conditional one. And there are no safe guards. What is current today might be changed tomorrow. Antiqvo 1,000 times, Antiqvo! CFD: UTI ROGAS. AICPM: UTI ROGAS. DIPI: ANTIQUO. As you know, I have spoken forcefully against this. It is against the Mos Maiorum and is a response to a non-existent problem. Its provisions would affect one senator only, thus this has the appearance of something that is meant to fix a problem that when looked at doesn't exist. I oppose this on principle. It is against the mos maiorum and is detrimental to the long term welfare of the senate and the state. Senators are supposed to be as free as possible from political pressure, which is why it's a lifetime position. If we open the door to "lifetime except under this circumstance" then we are setting a precedent to add other conditions and yet others until before you know it we will be politicians thinking of our careers and possible dangers to ourselves, rather than statesmen looking at the long-term dangers to Nova Roma and her long-term needs and goals. MII ANTIQUO. TLF: UTI ROGAS. I do not see that this proposal goes against the mos maiorum, as it seems quite appropriate to our version of the ancient measure of worth--i.e. service in place of wealth. It also establishes reasonable guidelines and goes a long way toward forestalling future arguments over whether the censores need an "enabling law" in order to use the powers allotted to them by the constitution. CMM: UTI ROGAS. I vote to adopt this policy. The minimum participation requirement is very reasonable and fair, and it acts to narrow and define somewhat one power of the censores. MMA UTI ROGAS. MOG UTI ROGAS. LSAO: UTI ROGAS. (FVG) ANTIQUO.
Item VI: Age Exemption Exemption to the Lex Iunia de Magisterium Aetate for M. Scribonius Curio Britannicus.
[A 2/3 supermajority is required to pass this measure.]
- NOT PASSED* YES, 2; NO, 14; ABSTENTION, 0.
PC: UTI ROGAS. MJC: ANTIQUO. While M. Scribonius Curio Britannicus has so far done very well in the positions he has filled, I must concur that this sort of exemption should be done only in special circumstances. Hopefully Britannicus will consider other positions that he is able to fill legally now. LCSF: ANTIQUO. PCS ANTIQUO. With the greatest respect to Marcus Scribonius Curio Britannicus: After carefully weighing his political activity, political participation within the past 7-8 months, to wit, expression of personal position with respect to plebian items presented in the Forum, or other associate lists, I am not convinced that it is appropriate for me as a Senator and Praetor, who is keenly interested in the proper advocacy of plebian interests, to grant an age exemption to one whom I do not see as politically experienced or active enough for this important role. Not at this time. This in no way negates my recognition and appreciation of his service in other areas of Nova Roma, at which he has done well. LEC: ANTIQUO. However, as Censor I will observe the will of the Senate in this case. The law states that, "VI. An exemption to this law may be granted to a person by the approval of *both censor(e)s* and a senatus consultum approved by a two thirds majority vote." If the Senate grants this petition a 2/3 majority I will not block it. QFM: ANTIQUO. I much as I like Scribonius Curio we have age limits due to the fact that a young man has little life experience. I do believe as Scribonius Curio continues to work in Rome his seasoning will grow, and he will make a fine magistrate one day. Just not yet. I have heard the arguments pro, and I blame the internet. Youth of today want things now, spoiled by the internet's "instant access" There is no instant access in Nova Roma, except through hard work with dignatis and that is the way it should stay. CFD: ANTIQUO. AICPM: ANTIQUO. DIPI: ANTIQUO. Exceptions to this law should be rare and be made only for extraordinary individuals who stand out above their peers in their age group. While M. Scribonius has served ably he does not stand out above his peers to the extent that he should be jumped ahead of them. MII UTI ROGAS. TLF: ANTIQUO. With reluctance, for the same reason as that stated by D Iunius. CMM: ANTIQUO. I vote against exempting M. Scribonius Curio Britannicus from Lex Iunia de Magistratuum Aetate. Exemption should be granted only rarely and where an urgent, convincing case is made for it. MMA ANTIQUO. The Senate has passed the Age Law for good reason, as we have seen in the past. While the exemption rule is a way around the law for those candidates below the age requirement for the position requested, it is my belief that such an exemption must be earned by special consideration by exceptional effort, or some other indication that the applicant is indeed special in some way that sets his or her age limitations in a secondary consideration. I have neither seen nor read of any such special considerations for this applicant. MOG: UTI ROGAS. LSAO: ANTIQUO. Reluctantly. Marcus Scribonius has evidently served Nova Roma well as a Rogator. However, the position of Tribune can be a powerful and influential one. I would prefer that he first gain the additional years required by the law, and therefore I cannot support this exemption. (FVG) ANTIQUO. Dabam a.d. V Kal. Feb. MMDCCLV a.V.C.
= Bene Valete in Pace Deorum!
Gnaeus Salix Astur
Tribunus Plebis Legatus Externis Rebus Provinciae Hispaniae Triumvir Academiae Novae Romae in Thule Scriba ad Res Externas Academiae Novae Romae in Thule Lictor Curiatus.
a.d. V Kal. Feb. MMDCCLV A.V.C.
