IMPORTANT NEWS - NOTA BENE
CANDIDATES ARE NEEDED! CONTACT AN AEDILIS OPPIDI!
THE COMITIA OPPIDANA IS SUMMONED! COME TO THE NOVEMBER 9 MEETING!
ELECTION SCHEDULED ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9

FOEDVS DE CONSTITVTIONE OPPIDVM FLVMINIS GILAE

I. Name of the Oppidum

In accordance with the Lex Fabia de oppidis et municipiis (“Lex Fabia”), we the citizens of Nova Roma in the southern counties of the State of Arizona establish Oppidum Fluminis Gilae by this foedus. This foedus is given to the Propraetrix of the Provinicia America Austroccidentalis, the Oppidum being a local subdivision of this province.

II. Geographical Limits

Oppidum Fluminis Gilae shall include the counties of Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee in the State of Arizona in the United States of America.

III. Membership

A. Every citizen of Nova Roma living in the counties listed in Article II shall have the right to be a member of the Oppidum. (Lex Fabia 1.2)

B. Any citizen of Nova Roma who lives in the counties listed in Article II and wishes to become a member of the Oppidum shall register with the Aediles by sending a written request.

C. Every member of the Oppidum shall have the right to relinquish his or her membership in the Oppidum without losing any of his or her rights as a citizen of Nova Roma. (Lex Fabia 1.3)

D. Loss of Nova Roman citizenship shall involve loss of membership in the Oppidum. (Lex Fabia 1.4)

E. The process of re-admission to membership shall be determined by the Comitia Oppidana.

IV. Documents

A. The following public documents shall be instituted. The Aediles shall be responsible for maintaining these documents.

1. The Album Civium, listing the names of the citizens of Nova Roma who are also members of the Oppidum.

2. The Tabularium, recording the leges and actiones of the Comitia Oppidana and the edicta issued by the Aediles.

3. The Acta, recording the minutes of the meetings of the Comitia Oppidana.

B. These documents shall be maintained on paper or other permanent medium.

C. One copy of each document shall be held by each Aedile, and one copy of each document shall be held in the Aerarium.

V. Institutions and Magistrates

A. Comitia Oppidana, the general assembly of all the members of the Oppidum

B. Aediles, two magistrates elected once a year

C. Scribae, appointed by each Aedile, not to exceed one for each Aedile

D. Sacerdos Solis, a chaplain elected once a year to lead the religious ceremonies of the Oppidum

E. Other offices may be created by the Comitia Oppidana to perform specific duties.

VI. Comitia Oppidana

A. The Comitia Oppidana is composed of all the members of the Oppidum.

B. All members shall have the right to speak and vote in the Comitia. (Lex Fabia 4.5)

C. The Comitia shall elect all local magistrates and enact leges and actiones binding upon all the members of the Oppidum. (Lex Fabia 4.3)

D. The Comitia shall assemble four times a year on a dies comitales. (Lex Fabia 4.6) These quarterly meetings shall take place in March, June, September and December. Other meetings of the Comitia may be called by the Aediles.

E. One or both of the Aediles shall summon the Comitia by edictum issued at least two weeks before the assembly. (Lex Fabia 4.4)

F. The election of magistrates shall take place at the December meeting of the Comitia.

G. Voting in the Comitia requires the physical presence of the voter in the place where the Comitia is being held. (Lex Fabia 4.2)

H. Procedural matters regarding a quorum and related issues shall be determined by the Comitia.

I. Voting may be done by voice or by secret ballot. For weighty matters, such as the election of magistrates, the secret ballot is preferred.

J. For a voice vote, one of the Aediles is responsible for counting. For a secret ballot, the Sacerdos Solis is responsible for counting.

K. The Comitia passes:

1. Leges (sing., lex), which deal with weighty matters and procedures.

2. Actiones (sing., actio), which cover other matters.

3. The Comitia shall determine what constitutes a majority and what sort of majority is needed for each of these types of legislation.

VII. Aediles

A. There shall be two Aediles, who are collegial magistrates of equal power. They are the highest magistrates in the Oppidum. (Lex Fabia 6.2)

B. The Aediles shall be elected by the Comitia Oppidana at the quarterly meeting in December.

C. The term of office shall be a full calendar year.

D. A member cannot serve two successive terms as Aedile. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Comitia Oppidana may pass an actio to extend the term for up to one year.

E. The election of new Aediles shall be certified to the provincial governor by the incumbent Aediles as soon as conveniently possible after the election.

F. The duties of the Aediles are:

1. To summon the Comitia Oppidana and preside over its meetings;

2. To maintain the local Album Civium, Tabularium, and Acta;

3. To issue edicta affecting the Oppidum;

4. To exercise intercessio against another local magistrate of equal or lesser authority. (Lex Fabia 6.4)

G. Each Aedile may appoint one scribe to assist with administrative and other tasks, as he or she shall see fit. (Lex Fabia 6.4)

H. The Aediles accomplish their functions by issuing Edicta.

1. When one Aedile issues an Edictum, his or her colleague will have nine days in which to exercise intercessio.

2. A vetoed Edictum may be brought before a meeting of the Comitia Oppidana, whether a regularly scheduled meeting or a special meeting duly summoned by either Aedile.

3. Edicta are subject to alteration by actio of the Comitia Oppidana.

I. The procedure for removing an Aedile from office shall be determined by the Comitia Oppidana.

J. Should an Aedile leave the Oppidum before the end of his or her term, the remaining Aedile shall notify the governor and hold elections for a new Aedile, who shall have the right to stand for election in the following year.

K. The provincial governor may, at his or her discretion, remove one or both of the Aediles by edictum. He or she will then make arrangements for new elections.

VIII. Intercessio and Legal Precedence

A. The magistrates of Nova Roma and the provincial governor shall have the power of intercessio over the Aediles and the Comitia Oppidana. (Lex Fabia 5.3)

B. Each Aedile shall have the power of intercessio over his or her colleague and over other minor magistrates of the Oppidum. (Lex Fabia 6.4.c)

C. The Constitution and laws of Nova Roma, the Senatus Consulta of the Senate of Nova Roma, the edicta of magistrates of Nova Roma (including the provincial governor), and the decreta of the pontifical and augural colleges of Nova Roma shall have precedence over leges and actiones of the Comitia Oppidana and edicta of the Aediles. (Lex Fabia 5.2)

D. Leges and actiones of the Comitia Oppidana shall have precedence over edicta of the Aediles and other local magistrates. (Lex Fabia 5.1)

E. The acts of the lesser magistrates are under the authority of leges and actiones of the Comitia Oppidana and of edicta of the Aediles.

IX. Religio

A. In keeping with the Constitution of Nova Roma (II.B.1), every member of the Oppidum has the right to his or her own religious beliefs, including non-belief.

B. Apart from its members’ individual beliefs, Oppidum Fluminis Gilae, as a local part of Nova Roma, supports the Religio Romana with public rites and ceremonies to the gods.

C. The patron deity of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae is the god Sol, known also as Sol Indiges, and known to the Greeks as Helios.

D. The leader of the Religio Romana in the Oppidum is the Sacerdos Solis. [Footnote: In Latin, sacerdos can be either masculine or feminine.]

E. The Sacerdos Solis shall be elected at the December meeting of the Comitia Oppidana.

F. The term of office shall be a full calendar year.

G. The Sacerdos Solis may not also be an Aedile at the same time.

H. The Sacerdos Solis may appoint one assistant to assure that the rites of the Oppidum are maintained.

I. The duties of the Sacerdos Solis are:

1. To offer worship to the gods at every meeting of the Comitia;

2. To lead the religious rites surrounding any Roman event sponsored by the Oppidum;

3. To invite the members to festivals of the gods;

4. To create and/or maintain a book of rituals and ceremonies to be used in the Oppidum;

5. To prepare and publish the calendar of the Oppidum for the year of his or her term. This calendar shall conform to the official calendar of Nova Roma, with appropriate local additions;

6. To faithfully count the secret ballots of the Comitia Oppidana.

J. Other priesthoods may be created, either by lex of the Comitia Oppidana or by edictum of the Aediles, as confirmed by actio of the Comitia.

X. Aerarium

A. The treasury of the Oppidum shall be known as the Aerarium.

B. One of the Aediles shall be responsible for the Aerarium.

C. The Comitia Oppidana may elect one or two members as Quaestors to take charge of the Aerarium, under the authority of the Aediles.

D. The magistrate who maintains the Aerarium shall report the finances of the Oppidum at each meeting of the Comitia Oppidana.

E. The financial books of the Oppidum shall be made available for all members to examine if they request.

XI. Praesidium

A. The Comitia Oppidana shall establish a praesidium, composed of volunteer citizens.

B. The Comitia shall elect a citizen to serve as the leader of the praesidium at its meeting in December.

C. The term of office for this leader shall be for a full calendar year.

D. The leader of the praesidium may also be an Aedile or the Sacerdos Solis.

E. The duties of the members of the praesidium shall be:

1. To preserve the honor of Nova Roma and Oppidum Fluminis Gilae;

2. To protect the citizens of the Oppidum and its magistrates;

3. To serve as an honor guard for the magistrates.

XII. Modifications to this Foedus

A. This foedus may be modified by a lex approved by the Comitia Oppidana.

B. Once the lex has passed, the Aediles will jointly submit the revised foedus to the governor for approval.

QVOD BONVM FAVSTVM FELIXQUE SIT. This foedus is herewith approved by the citizens of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae, a.d. IV Id. Sex. ‡ M. Moravio T. Iulio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXI a.u.c.

Citizens (arranged by nomen)

• Gaius Albius Trigeminus, Tucson
• Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus, Tucson
• Gaius Iulius Iulianus, Tucson
• Gaia Ovidia Lepida, Tucson
• Marcus Valerius Potitus, Phoenix

Provisional Citizens

• Gaia Aurelia Trigemina, Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, US, a.d. IV Id. Sext. ‡ M. Moravio T. Iulio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXI a.u.c.

EX OFFICIO PROPRAETORIS AMERICA AUSTROCCIDENTALIS:

EDICTUM PROPRAETORICUM DE OPPIDUM FLUMINIS GĪLAE.

Having received the foedus from the following citizens:

• Gaius Albius Trigeminus
• Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus
• Gaius Iulius Iulianus
• Gaia Ovidia Lepida
• Marcus Valerius Potitus
• Gaia Aurelia Trigemina,

I, Arnamentia Moravia Aurelia, Legata Propraetore of the Provincia America Austroccidentalis, approve their request to form an Oppidum in the Southern counties of the State of Arizona in concordance with Lex Fabia de Oppidis et Municipiis. For that:

• the official name of the oppidum will be Oppidum Fluminis Gīlae.
• the geographical limits of the Oppidum Fluminis Gīlae are represented by the counties of Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee in the State of Arizona (in the United States of America.)
• every Nova Roman citizen from the designated area is citizen of the nominated oppidum at the time he/she has Nova Roman citizenship.
• The Comitia Oppidana is represented by all oppidum citizens and it has the rights and responsibilities described by the Lex Fabia de Oppidis et Municipiis, point 4.
• The Comitia Oppidana will approve or reject local proposed laws (leges oppidanae) in conformity with the legal precedence described by Lex Fabia de Oppidis et Municipiis, point 5.
• The Comitia Oppidana will elect two aediles for a one-year term and they will have the rights and duties described by Lex Fabia de Oppidis et Municipiis, point 6.

I nominate G. Caelius Ahenobarbus and M. Valerius Potitus as provisional aediles with the duty to handle the elections of oppidum's first magistrates in concordance with Lex Fabia de Oppidis et Municipiis, point 3.3.

This edict is effective immediately. Given under my hand this 31st day of August 2761 ab Urbis condita (CE 2008) in the consulships of M. Moravius and T. Iulius.

A. Moravia Aurelia Legata Propretore, America Austroccidentalis

Cn. Caelius Ahenobarbus M. Valerius Potitus Aediles Civibus Oppidi Fluminis Gilae, salutem plurimam dicit

(PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE. Yes, it is long, but it has all the information you need to vote in the Oppidum. It calls for candidates, lists a proposed lex, and explains why the vote is taking place in November instead of December as stipulated by the Foedus. If you have any questions, e-mail or call Cn. Caelius Ahenobarbus ( cn.caelius@yahoo.com) or M. Valerius Potitus ( valerius.potitus@gmail.com ). )

THE COMITIA OPPIDANA IS SUMMONED

We, the aediles of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae, hereby summon the Comitia Oppidana to the November meeting, Sunday, November 9, 2761 (2008). The Comitia Oppidana consists of all citizens of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae. Visitors are welcome to attend and can even make their voices heard, but cannot cast a vote. The first order of business will be voting on a lex (see below). Depending on the outcome of the first item, the second item will be the election of magistrates of the oppidum for 2762.

CALL FOR CANDIDATES AND ELECTION

This is the official CALL FOR CANDIDATES for the offices of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae for 2762 a.u.c. The election will be held AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING, NOVEMBER 9, AT FRONIMO'S GREEK RESTAURANT, TUCSON. The terms of the offices are from January 1 to December 31, 2762 a.u.c.

To run for office, you must be a full citizen of Nova Roma and an assiduus (a current taxpayer of Nova Roma). To vote, you must be a citizen of Oppidum Fluminis Gilae, and YOU MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE MEETING; assiduus status is not required to vote.

The process will be as follows:

1) A Call For Candidates is distributed. This e-mail completes this step. 2) A period of time is allowed for candidates to declare their candidacies. This period starts today, Sunday, October 26, and ends at noon, Arizona time, Wednesday, November 5, 2761. No declarations will be accepted after the ending time and date. 3) Our regular meeting will take place at 1:00PM (sharp; please show up 5-10 minutes early to be sure you are on time) on Sunday, November 9, 2761. Starting at 1:00PM, a maximum of five minutes will be offered to each candidate to speak publicly to the Comitia Oppidana about themselves, their candidacy, and their ideas for the oppidum for 2762. 4) After all the candidates have spoken, a maximum of 10 minutes will be allowed for discussion amongst everyone. 5) After the discussion, ballots will be distributed and the vote will be held. The results will be tallied by the Sacerdos Solis, Gaius Iulius Iulianus, and announced immediately. The entire process should move quickly so that those whose time is precious can still attend the meeting to vote, even if they must leave immediately afterwards.

There are four offices for which candidates are being called. The offices are:

Aedilis Oppidi (2) There are two Aediles Oppidi. They act as "co-mayors" and are the highest-ranked magistrates within the oppidum. The Aediles Oppidī are elected by the Comitia Oppidana and serve during the following calendar year. Their responsibilities include the maintenance of the oppidum's Album Civium (membership); maintenance of the oppidum's Tabularium (laws); collection, control, and disbursement of any available funds; and planning and executing public events. Each aedilis may have one assistant (scriba), appointed at-will, to assist them in their duties.

Sacerdos Solis There is one Sacerdos Solis. This is the chief religious official of the oppidum. Their responsibilities include public rituals, collection and storage of religious and ritual implements, and religious education. The Sacerdos Solis is elected by the Comitia Oppidana and serves during the following calendar year. The Sacerdos Solis may have one assistant (camillus [male], camilla [female]), appointed at-will, to assist them in their duties. The Sacerdos Solis cannot serve as an aedilis at the same time.

Praefectus Praesidii There is one Praefectus Praesidii. This is the chief official of public order in the oppidum. Their responsibilities include being the commander of military reenactment legions within the oppidum, providing lictors when needed, creation and storage of military implements, and historical education. The Praefectus Praesidiī is elected by the Comitia Oppidana and serves during the following calendar year. The Praefectus Praesidiī may appoint those below them and organize any rank hierarchy as they see fit.

If you wish to declare your candidacy for one of these positions, e-mail or call Cn. Caelius Ahenobarbus ( cn.caelius@yahoo.com) or M.. Valerius Potitus ( valerius.potitus@gmail.com ). All candidates and their statements will be posted to the oppidum's page on the Nova Roma wiki ( http://www.novaroma.org/nr , search for "fluminis") in a timely manner by one of the aediles.

PROPOSAL I - LEX CAELI DE TEMPUS COMITALIS

This is an official proposal. The Lex Caeli de tempus comitialis (Law of Caelius about the time of elections) is proposed to change the yearly elections from December to November. This brings the oppidum in-line with Nova Roma and the U.S. A copy of the current foedus can be found on the oppidum page on the Nova Roma wiki. Changes to the Foedus (available on the Oppidum Fluminis Gilae page on the Nova Roma wiki) are suggested as follows:

• VI.F. Change "December" to "November".
• VII.B. Change "December" to "November"
• IX.E. Change "December" to "November"
• XI.B. Change "December" to "November"

A vote of "VTI ROGAS" ("as you propose") will make these changes. A vote of "ANTIQVO" ("for the old") will keep the Foedus as it is.

THE VOTE ON THIS LEX WILL BE THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AT THE MEETING! This ensures that everyone agrees with the change before we move forward with the elections. If this lex is passed, the elections will follow immediately afterwards and the changes to the Foedus will be submitted to the provincial legata. If this lex is defeated, the elections will be held during December but will be modified due to the fact that the calendar of Nova Roma prevents us from voting on our scheduled meeting date in December. See the informational section below for more information.

INFORMATION

This section is informational and important. Please read it.

Oppidum Fluminis Gilae, being a local chapter of Nova Roma, follows the calendar of Nova Roma as laid down by the Collegium Pontificum of Nova Roma. This calendar specifies which days may be used for regular business, elections, rituals, etc. Some days are public holidays, some are festivals, and some are considered "dark" or "inauspicious". On these days, certain types of business can't take place. Due to our oppidum's monthly meetings happening on the second Sunday of each month, our meetings coincide with these "limited" days very often. This can prevent us from doing public ritual or voting, which, due to the long time between meetings, prevents us from acting in a timely manner.

To solve this issue, the aediles have researched the calendar for next year and found that the last Sunday of each month seems to be an "unlimited" day every month next year (2762). A bit more research will be needed to verify and possibly come up with another option, but as it stands, the oppidum meetings will move from the second Sunday to another day, starting in January. This day will be a weekend day, and we will try to keep it very regular ("2nd Xday", "last Xday", etc.). The new day will be announced by December 1 via the oppidum mailing list.

The December meeting this year falls on the day after the Idus Decembris. The day after the Kalends, Nones, and Idus of every month is a "dies ater"--a "dark day"--upon which public rituals may not be performed and elections cannot be held. Therefore, unless we move the elections to November for this year, we will have to perform some convoluted machinations to let us all vote in December. It's much easier to just move the election. Also, the last half of December is problematic in American society due to holidays, so it makes more sense to hold elections in November; this also brings us into line with Nova Roma's election schedule.

If you have any questions, please contact Cn. Caelius Ahenobarbus or M. Valerius Potitus immediately. We will be glad to help you in any way we can.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Nova Roma http://www.novaroma.org/nr

Oppidum Fluminis Gilae page on Nova Roma wiki (includes foedus, current magistrates, etc.) http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Provincia_America_Austroccidentalis_-_Oppidum_Fluminis_Gilae_(Nova_Roma)

Nova Roma Calendar http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Fasti_MMDCCLXI#OCTOBER

A Description of the types of days in the calendar http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Responsum_Pontificum_de_Diebus_(Nova_Roma)

    Cn. Caelius Ahenobarbus Omnibus S.P.D.

    I, Gnaeus Caelius Ahenobarbus, hereby declare my candidacy for the position of Aedilis in Oppidum Fluminis Gilae for the calendar year of 2762.

    I am 37 years old and live in the locality of Tucson. I am a yoga teacher and a student. I joined Nova Roma in Aprilis of 2761 a.u.c. (2008 CE) after deciding to pursue a long-standing latent interest in Rome, Roman history, and Roman culture and language. As I have learned more about Roma antiqua, I have also learned that I should be an active part of Nova Roma. I am currently studying the early history of western civilization and the Latin language at a local community college; these courses are leading to a degree in Linguistics, with a double major (or at least a minor) in Latin.

    Oppidum Fluminis Gilae is the first oppidum in the Americas. There is much to be done here in the oppidum, but we will also be observed closely by others. We need to set an excellent example. I believe we have already begun to do so.

    In the office of aedilis oppidi, I have helped the oppidum take the first steps to becoming a successful, active, and growing entity. During the past 3 months, I have spent time contacting new members, advertising our existence, interacting with the provincial legata, and organizing the monthly meetings. I have offered my home for rituals. I have started negotiations with a sculptor to create a bust of Sol Indiges for the oppidum to use in worship. Working closely with my colleague, Marcus Valerius Potitus, I have also taken care of the ordinary business that has arisen.

    In 2762 a.u.c. (2009 CE), I will help the oppidum by continuing the above efforts. I will help the oppidum to be beneficial to its members in many ways: regular meetings, rituals, group projects, and public events. I have already begun researching the celebration of a public Floralia celebration in early May. I will work closely with my colleague, and I will do whatever I can to support the other officers and citizens of the oppidum.

    If you wish for me to serve as aedilis oppidi for 2762 a.u.c., I ask that you vote for me.

    May Sol, Iupiter, and all the gods bless our efforts! Maximas gratias tibi ago!

    M. Valerius Potitus Civibus Oppidi Fluminis Gilae omnibusque SPD.

    In the name of Sol, I, Marcus Valerius Potitus, don the toga and declare my candidacy for the office of Aedilis in Oppidum Fluminis Gilae for the year 2762.

    I am 48 years old, and I live in Phoenix. I am an accountant with a multinational company, but in my free time I am a student of history and religion. I have been a citizen since the Kalends of May, 2760. and I am currently a candidate for Quaestor.

    I look forward to working with my colleague, making contact with other Roman and Hellenic groups, and with other people interested in Romanitas and the Religio. In particular, I will foster relationships with other pagan groups in the area and with Legio IX. I hope to gather a group of Romans in Phoenix.

    One of the big events that we are planning is a celebration of the Floralia at the end of April or the begining of May. This festival will include ritual, drama, and military exhibitions.

    I would be honored to serve as Aedilis.

    Optime valete.

    Salvete!

    I, Gaius Iulius Iulianus, wish to announce my candidacy statement for Sacerdos solis! I am a citizen of Nova Roma and the Flamen Floralis. I am also recognized as a Sacerdos Nationis by the M.T.R. in Italia and as the Senior Paterfamilias of my Gens Iulia. I have been a practicing Romanus of the Religio Romana since Augustus of 1991 and consider myself a pious and upholder of the traditional Roman Mos Maiorum and Cultus Deorum! I live here in Tucson, Arizona, and am 55 years of age. My passion is for the traditional cultus of the Religio Romana and if elected I vow to present myself as a Sacerdos Solis and to carry out my sacerdotal duties as such! I have helped to plan and perform rituals in the oppidum, and continue to grow in knowledge and action.

    For Roma and the Religio I remain faithfully yours! Dii vos semper ament! Valete!

    Frater, Gaius Iulius Iulianus