I, Publius Memmius Albucius, Tribune of the Plebs, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of Nova Roma, On sight of the Constitution of Nova Roma, specially its article IV.A.7.d ; On sight of Senate sessions reporting Moravia Law Nov.15, 2756 a.u.c. ; On sight of Consul Fr. Apulus Caesar Edict 4 January 2005 convening the Senate ; On sight of my Edict 2nd August 2005 (58-17) on the communication of the Senate session ; On sight of the session of the Senate which has begun on July 2005, 24th and ended on July 2005, 30th, and whose vote has ended on August 2005, 4th 18.00 p.m. (Rome time) ; On sight of Consul Fr. Apulus Caesar message (extracts below), displayed on the Senate list on 4th August 2005 at 18 :04, proclaiming the results of the Senate vote ; Considering the need to correct the counting of the votes made by Illustrus Consul Caesar on items 2 and 3 submitted to the vote, Edicts : Article 1 : The citizens, the People and the Plebs of Nova Roma are informed that the Senate, duly convened par Consul Fr. Apulus Caesar, has ended at 21.00 p.m. (Rome time) on July 2005, 30th its session begun at 21 :00 p.m. (Rome time) on July 2005, 24th. The Senate has also ended its vote, which has last from 21.00 p.m. (Rome time) on July 2005, 30th, to 18:00 p.m. (Rome time) on August 2005, 4th. Article 2 : Five points were in the agenda of the Senate, detailed in my previous edict 58-17 (August 2nd) : # 1 - APPOINTMENT OF NEW PROPRAETOR OF PROVINCIA AMERICA MEDIOCCIDENTALIS SUPERIOR # 2 - REMOVAL OF INTERPRETERS AND LICTORES # 3 - PERMISSION TO USE THE NOVA ROMAN LOGOS # 4 - BANK ACCOUNT IN EUROPE # 5 - LEX IVLIA DE FORO ET MODERATIONE Article 3 : The details of the vote communicated by the consular message are the following : 1/ The quorum has been reached since seventeen (19) senators, representing 63 % of the senators, have voted. 2/ These 19 senators are the following (no order in the list) : FAC - Franciscus Apulus Caesar GPL - G. Popillius Laenas GEM - Gnaeus Equitius Marinus CFBQ - Caeso Fabius Buteo Quintilianus LAF - Lucius Arminius Faustus LEF - L. Emilia Finnica PMTS - P. Minucia Tiberia Strabo JSM - J. Sempronia Magna GFL - G. Fabia Livia LSA - L. Sergius Australicus LECA - Lucius Equitius Cincinnatus Augur TLF - T Labienus Fortunatus MMTA - Marcus Minucius-Tiberius Audens MIP - Marcus Iulius Perusianus MAM - Marcus Arminius Maior GMM - Gaius Marius Merullus QFM - Q. Fabius Maximus AGG - Antonius Gryllus Graecus MOG - Marcus Octavius Germanicus 3/ The votes casts by each present and voting senator are the following, « UR » meaning « VTI ROGAS » (i.e. « yes »), ABS meaning « abstineo » (i.e. abstain) and ANT meaning « antiquo » (i.e. « no »). On the second item, some senators chose, with the approval of the presiding consul, to separate their vote between the vote for the removal of the non-tax-paying interpreters and non-tax-paying lictors. So, you will find, for example votes like « UR, ANT ». Each vote cast on every item submitted to vote is reported here (so, for example, UR/ABS/UR must be read as « yes to the 1st question ; abstain on the 2nd ; yes on the third item) : FAC - UR/UR/UR GPL - UR/UR/UR GEM - UR/UR,ABS/UR CFBQ - UR/UR/UR (proxy to Consul FAC) LAF - UR/UR/UR (proxy to Consul FAC) LEF - UR/UR/UR PMTS - UR/ABS,ABS/UR MOG - UR/UR/UR JSM - UR/UR, ANT/UR GFL - UR/UR/UR LSA - UR/UR/UR LECA - UR/UR, ANT/UR TLF - UR/UR, ABS/UR MMTA - UR/ABS/ABS MIP - UR/UR/UR MAM - UR/UR/UR GMM - UR/UR/UR QFM - UR/ANT/UR AGG - UR/UR, ANT/UR Article 4 : Since the Senate is composed by thirty one (30) senators, it appears that thirteen (11) senators, which represent 37 % of the senators, did not take part to the vote. These senators are the following ones : CFD - C. Flavius Diocletianus MCI - Marcus Cassius Iulianus LCSF - Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix DIPI - Decius Iunius Palladius Invictus LSD - Lucius Sicinius Drusus AICPM - Alexander I.C. Probus Macedonicus DIS - Decimus Iunius Silanus GSA - Gnaeus Salix Astur MCS - Manius Constantinus Serapio PC - Patricia Cassia ATMC - Appius Tullius Marcellus Cato Article 5 : The results of the vote of the Senate is the following : # 1 - APPOINTMENT OF NEW PROPRAETOR OF PROVINCIA AMERICA MEDIOCCIDENTALIS SUPERIOR Passed UR : 19 votes ANT : 0 vote ABS : 0 vote # 2 - REMOVAL OF INTERPRETERS AND LICTORES Though the question has been asked as a whole to the senators, six (6) of them made two different votes, concerning the interpreters on one hand, and the lictors on the other. From the moment that we consider these split votes as admissible, which did the presiding consul sees this question, we have the following results : 2.1. Removal of interpreters (« approve the removal of the following Interpreters and Lictores »): Passed UR : 16 votes ANT : 1 vote ABS : 2 votes 2.2. Removal of lictors (« approve the removal of the following Interpreters and Lictores » ): Passed UR : 11 votes ANT : 4 votes ABS : 4 votes # 3 - PERMISSION TO USE THE NOVA ROMAN LOGOS Passed UR : 18 votes ANT : 0 vote ABS : 1 vote Article 5 : The complexity of the question on the removal of interpreters and lictores asks some commentary. As Consul Caesar said in his message below, « (..) there was a misunderstand[ing] about the vote on this item. ». During the debate, some senators argued that the tax-non-paying lictors could not be dismissed but by the assembly that has designed them. The ground put foward by Ill. Consul Caesar has been the article III.C. of lex Vedia de assidui et capiti censi (May 20, 2756 a.u.c.), which says that « No member of the capiti censi may run for or hold office as one of the ordinarii (including the apparitores), nor be appointed to or hold office as provincial governor». The first difficulty which appears is that lex Vedia, or any other law, has not organised the way this article must be applied. This text sets an interdiction, but does not say what to do if citizens capite censi -i.e. who have not paid their taxes - run for or hold office. Consul Caesar has considered, with a not so bad reasoning, that these people should be dismissed. For it seems contrary to the basic roman virtues that people who claim representing Nova Roma do not, as other citizens, give the example contributing to the budget of our Res publica. Illustrus Caesar initially considered that the dismissal could be made by the Senate. Concerning the Interpreters, he was fully right, for the « simple » interpreters whose office has been created by lex Cornelia de linguis publicis as the « latinists », whose status has been detailed by lex Arminia de fovenda lingua latina, are designed and dismissed by the Senate. The case of the lictors was more complicated. Some senators underlined the fact that the lictors are designed by the comitia curiata and cannot be dismissed by another constitutional power. This argument sounds wise, concerning the lictores *curiati*, specially if we remind that the constitution specifies, in its article III.A., that « The comitia curiata (Assembly of Curiae) shall be made up of thirty lictores curiati (lictors of the curia) [..] and the collegium pontificum shall set the rules by which the comitia curiata shall operate internally. ». The problem, here, is that another article of the same constitution, the article IV.A.9., places the lictors and the lictores curiati among the apparitors : « Apparitores (Attendants). Collectively, the apparitores shall not be considered magistrates, but rather shall be appointed into various decuriae (corporations) to fulfill those necessary functions as shall be assigned to them by law enacted by one of the comitia. They shall include the lictores, lictores curiati, scribae, and accensi. ». And, we have seen that apparitores were concerned by lex Vedia (see above). So how to solve this double contradiction : on one hand lictors are members of one of the assemblies of Nova Roma, and another they are designed as ordinary-non-magistrates officers. Second, as members of an assembly they are not to obey to a rule defined by a simple (non constitutional) law or a rule that has not been defined by the comitia curiata itself ; at the same time lex Vedia says that they must not occupy their lictorial office if they do not pay the annual taxes ? The Senate has touched the difficulty and Consul Caesar decided (cf message below) that the asked vote would be « unofficial for lictores inviting the Pontifex Maximus to find a solution as soon as possible.». What seems clear is that first the primacy of the constitution on the law, then the fact that the article III of this text must prevails on the article IV.A.9 because the first set an *assembly* which is reputed to represent the People of Nova Roma, lead us to conclude that *in law*, the lictors have not to apply lex Vedia. Beyond this interesting senatorial debate, we see therefore that we will have to solve, one day or another some of the contradictions which are included in our Constitution. Remains the « moral » question : is it normal that some of the members of the comitia curiata do not pay taxes ? This Honorable assembly is the only one which may answer to this question, in conscience. Article 6 : The appropriate magistrates of Nova Roma and their departments are responsible, as far as each one is concerned, for executing this edict, which will be published in the Tabulariumof Nova Roma. Issued in Caen, city of the Viducasses, France, this fifth day of August, 2005 C.E. (5TH August 2758), during the consulate of Fr. Apulus Caesar and Ga. Popillius Laenas ________________________________________________________________ Extract of the consular message 4th August 18:04 rome time (..) # 1 - APPOINTMENT OF NEW PROPRAETOR OF PROVINCIA AMERICA MEDIOCCIDENTALIS SUPERIOR > Given the resignation of the Propraetor Q. Servilius Priscus > Fidenas, Salvia Sempronia Graccha presents her candidacy for the > Propraetorship of America Medioccidentalis Superior: > > <America Medioccidentalis Superior. I have been working on behalf of > Propraetor Q. Servilius Priscus Fidenas for some months now, first > as > scriba and then as legata, with the understanding that this was > essentially > an apprenticeship for the propraetorship. Now that he wishes to > effect > his retirement, I feel that I am reasonably well prepared to take on > the job. I hope that I will be able to contribute to the growth of > the > province. > We will be having our first local meeting this Thursday. I > am about > one-third done with the provincial census work. I have been > advising a > very enthusiastic newbie concerning her name. I have plans to > increase > the level of active involvement of our cives and to increase the > number > of cives. > I hope that you will consider these things when making your > decision. > If you would like further information, please don't hesitate to > ask.>> (..) + + + + + # 2 - REMOVAL OF INTERPRETERS AND LICTORES > The following Interpreters and Lictores are counted as members of > the Cepite Censi. As ordered by the Lex Vedia de Assidui et Capiti > Censi, they should be removed from their own Offices. However the > Costitution defines them as no Magistrates. So I address this matter > and the decision to remove them to the body entitled to elect them, > the Senatus. > The Senatus is called to approve the removal of the following > Interpreters and Lictores: > > - Titus Arminius Genialis > - Marcus Cornelius Felix > - Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix > - Petrus Domitianus Artorinus Longinus > - Lucius Fabius Metellus > - Helena Galeria Aureliana > - Marcus Martianus Gangalius > - Lucius Sicinius Drusus FAC - VTI ROGAS: working for a better law cohordinating the tax- raising with the annual elections, I think teh law should be applied and the following gentlemen removed from their own Offices. GPL - VTI ROGAS MOG - VTI ROGAS MIP - VTI ROGAS PM-TS - ABSTINEO LAF - VTI ROGAS, follow the law. ECF - VTI ROGAS JSM - VTI ROGAS for interpreters and ANTIQvO for lictores CFL - VTI ROGAS MMTA - ABSTINEO: I abstain from this voter from a hesitatation brought about by the determination of Senator Tiberia. She has mentioned some aspects that I had not considered, and until they are made clearer I will abstain on this matter. TLF - With respect to the interpretes: VTI ROGAS - With respect to the lictores of the comitia curiata: ABSTINEO While I see nothing wrong with the Senatus giving its advice in this matter--after all, that is what the Senatus does--Senatrix Minucia- Tiberia is quite correct that this body does not have the authority to dismiss lictores curiatae. That is, indeed, the purview of the Collegium Pontificum. LSA - VTI ROGAS MAM - VTI ROGAS AGG - Interpretes: VTI ROGAS - Lictores: ANTIQVO LECA - Cincinnatus Augur: ANTIQVO to the dismissal of the Lictores. As has been rightly stated that is the under the jurisdiction of the Comitia Curiata presided over by the Pontifex Maximus and appointed by the College Pontificum. "III. Comitia A. The comitia curiata (Assembly of Curiae) shall be made up of thirty lictores curiati (lictors of the curia), appointed to their position by the collegium pontificum (college of pontiffs). It shall be called to order by the Pontifex Maximus, and the collegium pontificum shall set the rules by which the comitia curiata shall operate internally..." We haven't addressed the issue of non tax paying Lictores. Who would think that someone appointed to such an honorable and exclusive comitia wouldn't support the republic of which it is a part? But then, we've had many other things happen that make even less sense. Cincinnatus Augur: VTI ROGAS, to the removal of delinquent interpreters. Since they are appointed by the Senate we have a perfect right to dismiss them. QFM - ANTIQVO: The information as given at the start of the Contio is now incorrect. Several of the mentioned names have paid their taxes according to the latest released information. Untile the statisics are updated we cannot vote using incorrect information. GEM - VTI ROGAS with respect to the Interpreters and ABSTINEO with respect to the Lictores GMM - VTI ROGAS CFBQ - VTI ROGAS It's quite clear that there was a misenderstood about the vote on this item. It seems that the law about Assidui et Capite Censi seems couldn't be applied to the Lictores which must to be judged by the Conitia Curiata called by the Pontifex Maximus. For this reason I divided the result of this item in two voices, one official for interpreters and one un-official for Lictores inviting the Pontifex Maximus to find a solution as soon as possible. So, the Interpreters which are members of the Capite Censi at the end of the current Senatus Consultum, are removed from their Office with immediate effect. (..) + + + + + > # 3 - PERMISSION TO USE THE NOVA ROMAN LOGOS > Gaius Vipsanius Agrippa ask to the Senatus the approval to use the > official logos of Nova Roma for his new e-commerce. The following is > the official request: > > < permission > to use the 'SPQR and laurel wreath' logo design on > crested/silk-screened > apparell. The first products available will be t-shirts, baseball > caps, > sweatshirts, hoodies, and toques. If there is a demand, I will > branch > out > into other apparell items. The logo would be used on the front of > the > product with 'novaroma.org' on the sleeves of the shirts and on the > back of > the caps and toques. Most likely, the shirts will retail for $US 15 > with > the caps and toques at similar prices. The sweatshirts and hoodies > will > probably retail for about $US 35 or 40. The prices will depend on > volume > and suppliers. I have a supplier in the works and the products will > be > available in about 3 weeks after I have recieved permission from the > Senate > to use the logo. If you have any questions about my proposal, > please > feel > free to email me. > > Thank you for your time, > Gaius Vipsanius Agrippa>> FAC - VTI ROGAS: I remember to illustrus Agripps that the permission by the Sneatus would be followed by the approval of the membership in the Ordo Equester. GPL - VTI ROGAS MOG - VTI ROGAS MIP - VTI ROGAS PM-TS - VTI ROGAS LAF - ABSTINEO, I was unable to follow the matter. ECF - VTI ROGAS JSM - VTI ROGAS CFL - VTI ROGAS MMTA - ABSTINEO: My reasoning here is because of a recent report of several children being severely burned (3rd degree burns over a large percentage of thier body) by t-shirts which were made of wholly or a large portion of synthetic products. When the T-shirts burned these products melted into the burned areas, and caused a signifiicant increase in the burn severity. Since I do not wish my name or my organizations linked with such dangerous practices in regard to children, I will abstain my vote until such time I I find out what kind of material these t-shirts are being made of. TLF - VTI ROGAS LSA - VTI ROGAS: I would hope that anyone authorized to sell items under the auspices of Nova Roma is required to attest to the basic safety of what they sell there. If this is not so, let us take steps to make it so. MAM - VTI ROGAS AGG - VTI ROGAS LECA - VTI ROGAS QFM - VTI ROGAS GEM - VTI ROGAS GMM - VTI ROGAS CFBQ - VTI ROGAS
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