Legal system (Nova Roma)
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The Nova Roman legal system includes the legal texts applicable to and inside Nova Roma. It is composed not only of the laws adopted by the comitia, the assemblies of Nova Roma, but also of senatus consulta, pontifical decrees and magisterial edicts.
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Leges
After the constitution, a lex (law) is the highest legislative legal policy. A lex is passed when successfully voted through by on of the comitia.
All leges (laws) of Nova Roma are officially listed through three sources, based on their status:
- List of laws in-force - Lists all active (in-force) laws in chronological order.
- List of all laws - Lists all laws ever enacted, in chronological order. A historical list.
- Consolidated library of laws - Lists all active (in-force) laws on a single page to enable keyword or phrase searches (Ctrl-F).
Leges Archive
Some complementary information on our older laws are available in our
Senatus consulta
A senatus consulta, abbreviated to SC, was an official statement and advice of the Roman senate to the executive magistrates. In Nova Roma, the SC has legal and authoritative precedence as a a decree of the Senate. A chronological summary of all SC can be found here:
Senatus Consulta Ultimum
In accordance with article V. D. of the Nova Roma constitution, in times of emergency, through a two-thirds majority vote, the Senate has the power to issue a senatus consultum ultimum (the ultimate decree of the Senate), abbreviated as SCU. An SCU can, with the exception of this Constitution, supersede all other laws, the judiciary, the magistrates and the Comitia, by making decisions in their place, and can authorize the consuls and other officers to use their imperium in the central administration with absolute powers, under the constraints of the Constitution and within the prescribed scope as defined by the Senatus consultum ultimum, to deal with a specific situation. The Senatus consultum ultimum is a type of Senatus consultum, and as such, it is subject to tribunician intercessio and to all rules regarding SC, but magistrates acting under an enacted SCUm are not subject to tribunician intercessio or provocatio. The SCU may not be used in place of a lex to enact a change in the Constitution or in the Articles of Incorporation, or in place of a decretum pontificum to appoint priests. A SCU only remains in-force for three months after its enactment. After which, it ceases to have any special authority other than a regular SC.
Senatus Consulta Ultimum of Nova Roma
Senatus Consulta Archive
Archived records (no longer used but retained for historical purposes) of some past SC and relevant pages may be found here:
Decreta pontificum vel augurum
The collegium pontificum has the right to issue decreta on matters relevant to the Roman religion and its own internal procedures, the collegium augurum has the same power to issue decreta on matters of the ars auguria and its own internal procedures. These priestly decrees may not be overruled by laws passed in the comitia, by senatus consulta, or by edicts of magistrates.
Edicta
An edictum is a binding authoritative order given by a magistrate empowered to do so. The level or authority of an edict is determined by the rank of the issuing magistrate. All edicts rank below leges and senatus consulta in legislative precedence. They are often used to formally assign tasks and projects, make rulings or interpret the law.
Edicta in Nova Roma are only valid for the duration of office of the issuing magistrate, in accordance with the Lex Arminia de ratione edictorum. Only a dictator's edicta IAW article IV. B. 1. of the constitution remains valid after their term in office. Nova Roma has consolidated edicta on the following page:
Form, instructions and treaties
Official Forms
Nova Roma will produce various official forms, applications and documents. Below is a list of commonly used forms and applications used in Nova Roma:
Instructions and Manuals
Instructions and manuals are often produced by various magistrates or apparitors to present a procedural guide or document repetitive work that is done within the Republic. These documents are no authoritative or hold legislative precedence in their own right but may often be issued under the imperium or potestas of a responsible magistrates. Current versions on various subjects are provided here:
- None currently listed
Official Treaties and Agreements
One of the primary objectives of Nova Roma is to work and collaborate with various individuals, groups and institutions around the world that foster the study of ancient Rome. Written memorandums of understanding (MoU) may also be produced with reenactment groups as detailed in leges like the Lex Aurelia de legionibus. Below is a list of known agreements or treaties with other entities:
Encyclopedia of Nova Roma legislation
The various forms of Nova Roma legislation and policy can be accessed through the:
- Codex Juris Novae Romae, the Nova Roman Law Handbook. An unofficial but useful tool for studying the law and identifying the relationship between various policy.
- It also contains a Glossary to search through legislation via topic, keyword or phrase.
