Session April 2777

Latest revision as of 00:04, 22 June 2024

Presiding Magistrate

M. Aurelius Cotta Iovius, Consul

The session was chaired by M. Aurelius Cotta Iovius. The 'Call to Convene' was announced on a.d. IX Kal. Apr. ‡.

Consular Auspices

Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, pontifex, took the auspices for consul M. Aurelius Cotta Iovius in his name, and they were favorable.

Consular Opening and Closing Ceremony

The Senate session was ritually opened and closed by a sacrificial ceremony by Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, pontifex in consul M. Cotta's name.

Quorum

Out of the 22 voting members of the Senate, Gallio Velius Marsallas, senator quaestorius has recently deceased, his memory be blessed, which modifies the current number of the senate to 21. The Senate of Nova Roma currently has 21 voting members which gives a minimum quorum of 14 voting members. With 20 senate members present and with 1 on leave of absence, the QUORUM IS ACHIEVED.

The 21 voting members are (first those who are currently magistrates then in order of senate precedence):

A. Tullia Scholastica, senatrix censoria, princeps senatus
M. Aurelius Cotta Iovius, senator praetorius, CONSUL
C. Petronius Stephanus Turpilianus, senator praetorius, CONSUL
P. Aurelius Barbatus, vir tribunicius, PRAETOR
C. Flavius Constantinus Aeneas Stilicho, senator aedilicius, PRAETOR
Fl. Vedius Germanicus, senator censorius
P. Annaeus Constantinus Placidus, senator censorius
Sex. Lucilius Tutor, senator censorius
Q. Arrius Nauta, senator censorius
M. Pompeius Caninus, senator consularis
T. Domitius Draco, senator consularis
C. Cornelius Cethegus Barosus, senator consularis
M. Hortensia Maior Fabiana Faustina, senatrix praetoria
C. Petronius Dexter, senator praetorius - ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE
C. Artorius Praeconinus, senator praetorius
P. Porcius Licinus, vir praetorius
D. Aurelius Ingeniarius, senator praetorius, DECEMVIR STILITIBUS IUDICANDIS
M. Caecilius Metellus Tocaiensis, senator aedilicius, AEDILIS CURULIS
Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, senator aedilicius, TRIUMVIR MONETALIS
A. Vitellius Celsus, senator aedilicius
A. Iulius Paterculus, senator aedilicius

The following 5 tribuni plebis who are not senators themselves have the right to attend this meeting of the Senate and are invited to participate therein:

Ti. Iulius Nerva, vir aedilicius, TRIBUNUS PLEBIS
M. Claudius Marcellus, vir tribunicius, TRIBUNUS PLEBIS
C. Valeria Terra, femina privata, TRIBUNUS PLEBIS
Ap. Pompeia Messalina, femina privata, TRIBUNUS PLEBIS
K. Quirinius Dasius, vir aedilicius, TRIBUNUS PLEBIS

Schedule

1700 Rome Time (CET) a.d. V Kal. Apr. ‡ 2777 AVC	(28 March 2024)	Call to convene.
2150 Rome Time (CET) a.d. IV Kal. Apr. ‡ 2777 AVC	(29 March 2024)	Call to order. Debate period commences and lasts until deemed necessary, but no later than the Ides of April. Debate is allowed to continue during voting.
1900 Rome Time (CET) a.d. XVI Kal. Mai. ‡ 2777 AVC	(16 April 2024)	Call to vote. Debate is allowed to continue during voting.
1200 Rome Time (CET) a.d. XII Kal. Mai. ‡ 2777 AVC	(20 April 2024)	End of vote. Results.
2355 Rome Time (CET) a.d. X Kal. Mai. ‡ 2777 AVC	(22 April 2024)	Call to close.

Agenda

ITEM I	Clarifying the amounts of certain Census Point awards that were made last year	Item for Vote
ITEM II	Deciding the tax rates for the current year	Item for Vote
ITEM III	Launching a call for tenders for sponsorship of fully Nova Roman legions for projects that promote Nova Roma	Item for Vote
ITEM IV	Deciding the date and location of the (next) 9th International Grand Conventus of Nova Roma	Item for Vote
ITEM V	Any additional motions by the senators

Proposal Results

ITEM I - DRAFT SENATUS CONSULTUM DE QUIBUSDAM PRAEMIIS CENSUALIBUS CLARIFICANDIS

Uti rogas / censeo / consentio = 17 = FVG, PACP, SLT, QAN, MPC, TDD, GCCB, MHMFF, MACI, DAI, GPST, AVC, AIP, MCMT, GCL, PAB, PPL

Antiquo = 0

Abstineo = 0

ENACTED

ITEM II - DRAFT SENATUS CONSULTUM DE TRIBUTIS M. COTTA C. PETRONIO COSS.

Uti rogas / censeo / consentio = 13 = PACP, SLT, QAN, GCCB, MHMFF, MACI, GPST, AVC, AIP, MCMT, GCL, PAB, PPL

• Comments:

AIP: I am strongly ambivalent about this Senatus Consultum. Any increase in taxes runs the risk of being counterproductive, since anyone who finds them too high can simply make the decision to stop paying. Even if this effect doesn't counterbalance the revenue increase (it probably won't overall, but since all the "extra" money is going specifically to the legions, the general treasury may yet be impacted by any taxpayers who find the $15 too high), I don't think any of us want Nova Roman taxes to become one of those expenses which increases annually without limit, too common in today's world, which collectively present a greater burden than any single item would suggest. The only reason I am voting in favour is because the additional funding is necessary for the Senatus Consultum de Legionibus Sustentandis, which is an excellent idea, and it doesn't seem right to vote for an expenditure but not the method of paying for it. I hope that we can brainstorm some alternative revenue sources and keep taxes steady for the next few years or even bring them back down.

Antiquo = 3 = FVG, MPC, TDD

• Comments:

FVG: I do not believe we should be penalizing cives for indulging in the "wrong" kind of Romanitas.

TDD: I believe in equality and we are gradually creating privileged classes. Instead of giving discounts on our dues, we should look for ways to make membership in Nova Roma more worthwhile. Right now? We offer nothing. Our website is archaic. We don't even have branded merchandise to give or sell. The majority of our members aren't re-enactors, they don't want to become priests. We need to think up ways not only to maintain and grow our membership but also to offer them what they deserve and stand out from other 'competing' organizations (besides us being the oldest).

Abstineo = 1 = DAI

• Comments:

DAI: I think the comments by senator A. Iulius Paterculus echo most of my thoughts. I also agree with comments made by senator Fl. Vedius Germanicus, although I suspect there is some historical precedence that was not shared with us which may justify it. Like all things historical; however, it must be adapted for modern Nova Roman times. Although there are some positive aspects to come from this SC, I disagree with how it has been delivered to us. Very little transparency, almost seeming to hide something. The legislation is also still written in an ambiguous way and it doesn’t aid itself for the bulk of citizens who need to understand it. I will be interested to see the results of this decision in a year's time.

ENACTED

ITEM III - DRAFT SENATUS CONSULTUM DE LEGIONIBUS SUSTENTANDIS

Uti rogas / censeo / consentio = 17 = FVG, PACP, SLT, QAN, MPC, TDD, GCCB, MHMFF, MACI, DAI, GPST, AVC, AIP, MCMT, GCL, PAB, PPL

• Comments:

DAI: The additional clarification on top of the extant legislation doesn’t hurt.

Antiquo = 0

Abstineo = 0

ENACTED

ITEM IV - DRAFT SENATUS CONSULTUM DE MAGNO CONVENTU INTERNATIONALI DEVANO

Uti rogas / censeo / consentio = 17 = FVG, PACP, SLT, QAN, MPC, TDD, GCCB, MHMFF, MACI, DAI, GPST, AVC, AIP, MCMT, GCL, PAB, PPL

• Comments:

FVG: I would request that a decision for the 2025 conventus be made much earlier, to allow time to plan travel.

TDD: I echo concerns that we don't offer enough notice about when and where these will be taking place. Ideally, we should be planning these several years out so our members can save up. Airfare and hotels are not cheap.

Antiquo = 0

Abstineo = 0

ENACTED

Session Results