Constitution of Nova Roma

Latest revision as of 23:36, 21 April 2023

The Constitution of Nova Roma is a special lex that forms the basis of all other laws of Nova Roma under the authority of the Confirmed Declaration of Nova Roma, and serves as the Bylaws of the Corporation, Nova Roma, Inc., within the frames of the Articles of Incorporation of Nova Roma, Inc. The Declaration and the Articles of Incorporation are the only two higher ranking legal documents of Nova Roma. The Articles of Incorporation overrides the Constitution, and nothing can have the force of law or valid in any way in the res publica of Nova Roma which would contradict any part of the Declaration of Nova Roma. The Declaration of Nova Roma clarify that the institutions and legal system of Nova Roma must follow "the best examples" of the mos maiorum, which requirement also limits what policies may be implemented within the organization.

Sine the ancient Romans did not know the concept of a "constitution", but similarly to the British legal system, they had an unwritten constitution that was manifested in traditions and several particular laws written in its spirit, Nova Roma avoids the use of the term "constitution", and instead we refer to the specific lex which serves as the Constitution of Nova Roma at a given time. Instead of the word "constitution", the terms "lex constitutiva" or "lex suprema" may also be used.

Current Constitution

The current constitution of Nova Roma is the lex Cornelia Domitia de re publica constituenda (the "Cornelian-Domitian law on the constitution of the republic"). Both the current constitution and all other laws of Nova Roma can be found in our Tabularium, the section of our website which collects the legal documents of Nova Roma.

History of the Nova Roman constitution

The First Constitution of Nova Roma

The first lex constitutiva of Nova Roma was enacted shortly after the founding of our res publica, in Fl. Vedio M. Cassio cos. ‡ MMDCCLI a.u.c.:

• The Vedian Constitution I, enacted in August, 1998

The Second Constitution of Nova Roma

The second lex constitutiva, enacted by dictatorial edict in L. Equitio Dec. Iunio cos. ‡ MMDCCLII a.u.c., and its modifications can be studied below:

• The Vedian Constitution II, enacted by dictatorial edict in July, 1999, confirmed by the senate in August
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in December, 1999
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in 5 January, 2002, by the by leges Vediae.
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in 5 June, 2002, by a lex Cornelia on the equestrian order
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in 9 August, 2002, by a lex Octavia on the comitia centuriata
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in 29 January, 2004, by various leges Labienae
• The Vedian Constitution II, as modified in 27 June, 2004, by the lex Equitia de ordinariis

The Third Constitution of Nova Roma

The third lex constitutiva was introduced by the legislation of consul Cn. Equitius Marinus Censorius in Cn. Salvio Cn. Equitio cos. ‡ MMDCCLVII a.u.c., and it was largely based on the latest version of the Vedian Constitution, but the text was revised and corrected. Its modified versions can be read below:

• The Equitian Constitution III, a full new text enacted on 15 October, 2004, by the lex Equitia de constitutione corrigenda
• The Equitian Constitution III, as modified in 15 October, 2004, by the lex Equitia de gentibus and lex Equitia de legibus ex postfacto ferendis
• The Equitian Constitution III, as modified in 24 October, 2013, by the lex Cornelia de rebus ordinis equestris
• The Equitian Constitution III, as modified in 4 January, 2014, by the lex Cornelia de constitutione corrigenda

The Fourth Constitution of Nova Roma

The fourth lex constitutiva was first enacted as a temporary measure to solve an internal crisis in Nova Roma, akin to the second Vedian Constitution, by consuls Cn. Lentulus Alexander and T. Domitius Draco, in Cn. Lentulo Alexandro T. Domitio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXIX a.u.c., and after the resolution of the crisis, it was made the permanent Constitution of Nova Roma by the lex Lucilia:

• The Cornelian-Domitian Constitution IV, a fully new text enacted on 26 December, 2016, as a temporary constitution of Nova Roma, by the lex Cornelia Domitia de re publica constituenda
• The Cornelian-Domitian Constitution IV, as modified on 26 August, 2021, as the permanent constitution of Nova Roma, by the lex Lucilia de re publica restituenda
• The Cornelian-Domitian Constitution IV, with certain provisions enacted by the senate on 28 December, 2021: this is the latest, current version of the lex constitutiva