Session XXXIX 02 December 2755

This is a report of a session of the Nova Roma Senate of a.d. IV Non. Dec. ‡, M. Octavio L. Sulla (II) cos. ‡ MMDCCLV a.u.c..

Senate action for 2 December 2755 as posted in the “old Tabularium” Tiberius Galerius Paulinus, Censor 9 August 2761 A.V.C.

Senate Voting Results Tribunis Plebis Marcus Arminius Maior Quiritibus SPD

The Senate has finished its latest session, and the votes have been tallied, as below. The following 16 Senatores cast votes. They are referred to below by their initials, and are listed in alphabetical order by nomen:

Marcus Arminius Maior (MAM) Marcus Cassius Julianus (MCJ) Patricia Cassia (PC) Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (LCSF) Lucius Equitius Cincinnatus (LEC) Caeso Fabius Quintilianus (CFQ) Quintus Fabius Maximus (QFM) Caius Flavius Diocletianus (CFD) Antonius Gryllus Graecus (AGG) Decius Iunius Palladius Invictus (DIPI) Titus Labienus Fortunatus (TLF) Gaius Marius Merullus (CMM) Marcus Minucius Audens (MMA) Marcus Octavius Germanicus (MOG) Lucius Sergius Australicus Obstinatus (LSAO) Appius Tullius Marcellus Cato (ATMC)

The following senators did not vote: Minervina Iucundia Flavia Gaius Tullius Triumphius Cicero

Senator Alexander Iulius Caesar Probus Macedonius voted after the closing of the session.

"UTI ROGAS" indicates a vote in favor of an item, "ANTIQUO" or "NEGAT" is a vote against, and "ABSTINEO" is an abstention.

The schedule: Voting began at 18:00 Roman time on Thursday, 27 November and ended at 18:00 Roman time Saturday, 30 November.

The items for consideration are as follows:

ITEM I - Budget for 2756 (as prepared by G. Popillius Laenas) Item PASSED *unanimously*. Uti Rogas (Yes): 16 votes; Antiquo (No):0 votes.

MAM : Uti Rogas. MCJ : Uti Rogas. PC : Uti Rogas, with thanks to Gaius Popillius for his excellent work this year. LCSF: Uti Rogas. LEC : Uti Rogas. CFQ : Uti Rogas. I am not quite satisfied with the answers about the Budget that I have got, but as I may together with my colleague for the comming year propose changes in the Senate I will accept it. QFM : Uti Rogas. CFD : Uti Rogas. AGG : Uti Rogas. DIPI: Uti Rogas. TLF : Uti Rogas. CMM : Uti Rogas. MMA : Uti Rogas. MOG : Uti Rogas. LSAO: Uti Rogas. ATMC: Uti Rogas.

ITEM II - Payment of $150 to Provincia Lacus Magni for September event First, I wish to close out this year of the administration on the Provincia Lacus Magni by submitting a request for reimbursement of funds for the 2nd Annual Lacus Magni Gathering. As many of you know, at the end of lst Sept., the annual gathering was held in Columbus, Ohio. We had food, contests and a good time. A tally of expenses for this gathering are as follows:

Food for the event: $75.00 Deposit for event shelterhouse: $25.00 General event Items: (Signs, decorations, Prizes, Gift Exclusives, etc.) $50.00 Total Cost: $150.00 I ask for reimbursement of $150.00 for this event. Thank you.

---

Item PASSED. Uti Rogas (Yes): 15 votes; Antiquo (No):0 votes; Abstineo: 1 vote.

MAM : Uti Rogas. MCJ : Uti Rogas. PC : Uti Rogas. LCSF: Uti Rogas. LEC : Abstineo. CFQ : Uti Rogas. As I have said before I think that this and other events should have our economic support. QFM : Uti Rogas. CFD : Uti Rogas. AGG : Uti Rogas. DIPI: Uti Rogas. TLF : Uti Rogas. This sort of thing is what the treasury is for, nonne? CMM : Uti Rogas. MMA : Uti Rogas. MOG : Uti Rogas. LSAO: Uti Rogas. ATMC: Uti Rogas.

ITEM III - Establish office of Princeps Senatus and set qualifications The position of Princeps Senatus is hereby created. The priviliges of the Princeps Senatus are as follows: The right to use the title "Princeps Senatus" in communications; A notation of "Princeps Senatus" status in the Album Civium, Album Senatorium, Annales, and other relevant pages on the web site; To be considered first in seniority among Senators not currently holding the offices of Censor, Consul, or Praetor, as an amendment to Section IV.B.1. of the Senatus Consultum de Ratione Senatus. The qualifications of any candidate nominated for appointment as Princeps Senatus are as follows: The candidate must have served a full term as Consul or Censor; and, the candidate must be at or above the median age of Senators, unless that candidate has previously served full terms as both Censor and Consul, in which case the age requirement shall not apply; and, the candidate must have served as a Senator for a length of time equal to or greater than the median; and, the candidate must be a Patrician at the time of his nomination; and, the candidate must be, in the opinions of his fellow Senators, of the highest moral character, dignitas and auctoritas. The title of Princeps Senatus is granted by Senatus Consultum. A qualifying candidate is nominated by the proposal of a Senatus Consultum naming that person Princeps Senatus; if two-thirds of the votes on that Senatus Consultum are affirmative,that Senator then becomes Princeps Senatus. Should no suitable candidate be available, or no proposed Senatus Consultum nominating a candidate be made, the position will remain vacant until a suitable candidate is proposed. The tenure of a Princeps Senatus is for five years. It may be terminated prematurely only by death, by a complete cessation of communications lasting one year or more, by termination of citizenship, or by resignation or ejection from the Senate. ---

Item NOT PASSED. Uti Rogas (Yes):7 votes; Antiquo (No):8 votes. Abstineo: 1 vote.

MAM : Uti Rogas. MCJ : Uti Rogas. PC : Uti Rogas. LCSF: Antiquo.

LEC : Antiquo. I do this as a matter of Pietas. Without going into detail I'll just say that the matter was initiated in an 'inauspicious' way. It is my firm belief that this path leads to negative consequences. I ask you to consider the merits of the proposal and what good comes from it. What is the benefit to Nova Roma? Is the Senate a 'mutual admiration society'? Benefictarius, endless appointments to Legate and Scriba of this, that, and the other, and rounds of back slapping and back scratching. Let us turn from these things and turn to the work of building Nova Roma and the Religio Romana.

CFQ : Uti Rogas. I have commented on this usbject before. I accept this proposal, but I would prefer to have the Censors appoint the Princeps Senatus as it was done in ancient times.

QFM : Antiquo. My reasons are twofold. Censors traditionally occupied the position. Even the first elected became a Censor in two years. Second, it is too early. I wish to wait 10 years, to revisit this, we have been around five and have gotten along fine without it. We are not about mutual admiration. We are about serving Rome.

CFD : Abstineo. The whole matter isn´t ready to vote about yet. There are several things to discuss, both political and religious aspects, and we shouldn´t break this over the knee. I don´t vote "antiquo" because the whole idea is worth to consider and discuss in future.

AGG : Antiquo. I think that there are many good people in this Senate able to occupy this honourable position. But I have no faith that it will be always like that, and with the unavoidable corruption of institutions that always take place from time to time, I see such a precedent as potentially very dangerous. Moreover, the word "princeps" scares me and it reminds me that the patres conscripti of old took similar initiatives that inadvertedly led to civil wars and the ruin of the res publica. As such, I pay here my homage to all those who could competently and in good faith occupy this position and ask for their forgiveness. With the same good faith as a senator my conscience forces me to vote against this initiative.

DIPI: Antiquo. I have no objection to the creation of such an office at the proper time. However, it is too early in our history for such a position and no one fits the bill yet, to use a colloquialism. I think the office as written up will make a good template for when we are truly ready for this office. It is a decent proposal, we are just not quite ready for it. TLF : Uti Rogas. I would prefer to have the censores appoint the princeps senatus, as was done in antiquity. And, I am a little troubled by the political tug of war that has ensued over what is really nothing more than an honorary title; it's an inauspicious start for an institution. Still, the position is otherwise defined properly with respect to ancient practice, and there is little in Nova Roma that isn't done without political controversy. Therefore, I do not see a compelling reason to stand in the way of reinstating this Roman tradition.

CMM : Antiquo. I vote against establishing this institution at this time. The introduction of the item has sparked a debate that brought out the worst in some of us and produced significant bickering and animosity. The benefit of the institution to Nova Roma is not very clear to me, but the likelihood of renewed conflict over the management of it is. Some things are worth fighting for, this is not.

MMA : Uti Rogas. MOG : Uti Rogas.

LSAO: Antiquo. I am persuaded that at this time this move would not be in the best interests of the Republic. The interpersonal rancor that has been occasioned by it in the Senate is disheartening, coming as it does on the heels of other recent outbreaks of unbecoming nastiness here. I also take to heart L. Equitius' interpretation of the auspices of the matter. The senator who has been mentioned as a prime candidate for this honor is certainly deserving of such honors, but I would prefer for us to be able to bestow formal honors, if we choose to do so, with more decorum and unanimity than has been demonstrated here at this time. I suggest we reconsider this when we can be more together on it.

ATMC: Antiquo. I believe that this bill is too hasty, and should perhaps be looked at more closely, and there may be other ideas that can be looked at as well.

ITEM IV - Appointment of Senator Appius Tullius Marcellus Cato as Propraetor Pro Tempore Canadae Orientalis. Item PASSED *unanimously*. Uti Rogas (Yes): 15 votes; Antiquo (No):0 votes; Abstineo: 1 vote.

MAM : Uti Rogas. MCJ : Uti Rogas. PC : Uti Rogas. LCSF: Uti Rogas. LEC : Uti Rogas. CFQ : Uti Rogas. He has my trust. QFM : Uti Rogas. Excellent and honorable candidate. CFD : Uti Rogas. May the gods smile on him. AGG : Uti Rogas. DIPI: Uti Rogas. TLF : Uti Rogas. CMM : Uti Rogas.

MMA : Uti Rogas. I am pleased to make the affirmation based on the tireless efforts of this gentleman, and in appreciation for the promotion of his province and Nova Roma with the introduction of the "Canadian Roman Event." I expect that Senator Cato will continue his determined and excellent work for Nova Roma.

MOG : Uti Rogas. LSAO: Uti Rogas. ATMC: Abstineo.

- Senator Appius Tullius Marcellus Cato is now the Propraetor, Pro Tempore, of the Canada Orientalis Province. His mandate will go until March/2756.

ITEM V - Appointment of Caius Minucius Hadrianus as Propraetor Novae Britanniae. Item PASSED *unanimously*. Uti Rogas (Yes): 16 votes; Antiquo (No): 0 votes.

MAM : Uti Rogas. MCJ : Uti Rogas. PC : Uti Rogas, with pleasure. Hadrianus has been an active and positive presence in our Province. LCSF: Uti Rogas. LEC : Uti Rogas. CFQ : Uti Rogas. I also trust this gentleman. QFM : Uti Rogas. Another good candidate. Marcus Minucius has trained him well. CFD : Uti Rogas. May he serve our res publica well. Welcome among the governors. AGG : Uti Rogas. DIPI: Uti Rogas. TLF : Uti Rogas. CMM : Uti Rogas.

MMA : Uti Rogas. I am also pleased to affirm with my vote the efforts of my Legate, and his efforts in the Nova Britannia Provincia. He has been of great assistance to me, and has learned the lessons of Provincial Management well. I am convinced that he will in his continuing efforts move the provincia to new hieghts of accomplishment to the honor of Nova Roma.

MOG : Uti Rogas. LSAO: Uti Rogas. ATMC: Uti Rogas. I believe that he is well qualified for the office, and give him my vote.

- Gaius Minucius Hadrianus will be the next Propraetor of Nova Britannia. His mandate will start at 01/January/2756.

Valete, Marcus Arminius Maior Tribunus Plebis

12/02/2002