Lex Arria de censu civium aestimando (Nova Roma)
The Nova Roman people enacts the following law about the assessment of the citizens' census as the share that they hold within Nova Roman society and repeals the lex Cornelia de punctis censualibus. The purpose of this law is to encourage and reward service to the res publica, work and productive activity, especially conventions and live programs of citizens, intellectual contribution and financial contribution to Nova Roma, and to encourage the noble effort of citizens in learning Roman studies and Latin, the language of the Roman people, and to reward certified and demonstrated knowledge and expertise that are essential in the educational and historical mission of Nova Roma to restore and promote Roman culture. In ancient Rome, citizens were said "censum habere", i.e. "to possess the census of", followed by the wealth they had, and this census (wealth, value) classified them as members of the five classes or the equestrian order. In Nova Roma, our "wealth", our "census" is our knowledge about ancient Rome, our expertise in studies and practices that can help bring Romanitas into life and spread Roman culture and virtues in the world. The wealth of a Nova Roma is the citizen's merits toward this mission, the service toward the republic which embodies this spiritual and educational mission. The assessment of the the census (the "wealth in Romanitas") of the Nova Roman citizens is measured in Census Points (Censualia Puncta), and according to the aforementioned motivations of this law, are divided into the categories of Service Points, Treasury Points, Status Points, Activity Points, Merit Points, Award Points and Cultural Points so that all relevant areas of civic life be assessed and valued.
I. Control and Oversight of Census Points
The censors are the guardians and supreme judges of the Census Point system, and they can override and reverse any Census Point award.
Abuse of the Census Point system, for example accumulative and unnecessary appointments of friends as scribes in order to promote them in the social hierarchy shall be investigated, reported and judged by the quaestors as a collective panel. If the majority of the quaestors determines that an appointment or awarding of Census Points is made out of corrupt motivations, no Census Points may be accounted for that appointment or award, and the quaestors shall bring the case into the attention of the praetor who shall determine if there is a need for an internal legal process.
II. Service Points
A. There shall be two types of Service Points, Past Service Points and Current Office Service Points, which are of the same amount, with the following exception: for the duration of service Current Office Service Points include an extra amount of Census Points to magistrates in order to enhance their social status and influence during their tenure of office which helps them in creating a stable government. Other officers don't receive an extra amount of Census Points for their Current Office Service Points. Past Service Points are given to all officers for past offices.
B. Service points are given per terms if the position has a fixed time term. If the position is repeated by prorogation, each started prorogation counts as a new term. If the title of a governor changes, it does not count as a new term. Only a new appointment or a new prorogation counts as a new term.
C. If the position has an indefinite term, excepting governors, or linked to the superior's term, Service Points (either Current Office or Past) are calculated accumulatively after each completed one year period (12 months): the first amount is given at the moment of appointment (as Current Office Service Point), the second after starting the next year (one amount for Current Office, another for Past), the third after starting the third year (one amount for Current Office, two amounts for Past) etc. Governors may not receive additional Census Points for a longer than 12 month service without prorogation. The term of apparitors and other lower officers appointed by higher officers, if not otherwise defined in the appointment, is considered to be the same as the term of their appointing superior, or the date when the appointing superior honorably discharges his lower officer. Honorable discharge is not considered removal from office, but completion of term.
D. If an officer serves only part of the term of office, only partial Census Point amount shall be given, which shall be based on three-month increments rounding down (one partial amount for each completed three month period, plus one amount equal to a three-month partial amount in addition just for entering office), calculated from the original length of the full term of their office. In case of officers with indefinite or flexible term of office, the full length of the term of office shall be considered one year (12 months). If, before the time of prorogations, a governor resigns against the will of the senate or is removed from office, the governor receives only partial Past Service Points which shall be calculated based on how many months he spent in service, as described in the previous sentence, but not more than what is due for 12 months. If the governor resigns or is removed after 12 months in office, he shall receive no more than what is due for one full term. Resignation, when it is a traditional stepping down from office due to custom, does not count as a resignation: the resignation of extraordinary magistrates, the dictator, magister equitum, or of other extraordinary officers appointed for a task with a term but having finished the task sooner, or the resignation of a censor after the death or resignation of his colleague do not count as resignations but complete terms.
E. In case of positions for life, priesthoods (except provincial priest), senate membership etc., only Current Office Service Points are given.
F. Service Points for Magistratus Ordinarii
- Censor:
- 1000 CP
- 100 CP (past service)
- Consul:
- 1200 CP
- 120 CP (past service)
- Praetor:
- 600 CP
- 60 CP (past service)
- Aedilis Curulis:
- 200 CP
- 20 CP (past service)
- Aedilis Plebis:
- 150 CP
- 15 CP (past service)
- Tribunus Plebis:
- 150 CP
- 15 CP (past service)
- Quaestor:
- 100 CP
- 10 CP (past service)
- Vigintisexvir:
- 50 CP
- 10 CP (past service)
G. Service Points for Magistratus Extraordinarii
- Dictator:
- 2400 CP
- 240 CP (past service)
- Magister Equitum:
- 600 CP
- 60 CP (past service)
- Interrex:
- 1200 CP
- 12 CP (past service)
H. Service Points for Lesser Officers
Citizens may hold more than one position in a magistrate's staff, but get points for the highest one only.
- Curator, Praefectus, Legatus etc.: ministers of state appointed by the senate or the government:
- 20 CP
- 20 CP (past service)
- 1st rank Official: Chief Of Staff, Praefectus
- 11 CP
- 11 CP (past service)
- 2nd rank Official: Chief Apparitor, Office Manager, Chief Of Staff, Praefectus
- 9 CP
- 9 CP (past service)
- 3rd rank Official: Senior Apparitor, Department Manager, Praefectus
- 7 CP
- 7 CP (past service)
- 4th rank Official: Apparitor (accensus, scriba, praeco etc): 4th rank Official
- 5 CP
- 5 CP (past service)
I. Service Points for Provincial Positions
Citizens may hold more than one provincial position, but get points for the highest one only. The ranks and titles of officials included in each rank are defined by each governor. The LEX VEDIA PROVINCIALIS (now a part of the Constitution) was "enacted to enable governors and the Senate more flexibility in establishing and maintaining the administrative institutions and mechanisms of provinciae." The main idea of this part of this law is also founded on flexibility. No limit is set for each rank of officials, except for the first rank officials.
- Governor:
- 50 CP
- 25 CP (past service)
- 1st rank Official (one per provincia): Vice-Governor
- 11 CP
- 11 CP (past service)
- 2nd rank Official: Lieutenant-Governor, Province Minister, Legatus-Praefectus,
- 9 CP
- 9 CP (past service)
- 3rd rank Official: Office Manager, Chief Apparitor, Praefectus
- 7 CP
- 7 CP (past service)
- 4th rank Official: Apparitor
- 5 CP
- 5 CP (past service)
- Provincial Sacerdos:
- 10 CP
- 1 CP (past service)
J. Service Points for Sacerdotes
- Pontifex Maximus, Rex/Regina Sacrorum, Flamen Maior, Vestal Maxima:
- 50 CP
- Pontifex, Flamen Minor, Augur, Vestal:
- 40 CP
- Other Sacerdotes:
- 20 CP
K. Service Points for Other Positions
The Senate shall have the authority to issue points for special appointed positions, as well as rewards for special services performed on behalf of the State.
L. Service Points for Sodalitates, Collegia, Societates etc.
Officers of officially sanctioned sodalitates or corporations within Nova Roma shall receive Census Points. Citizens may hold more than one sodalitas position, but get points for the highest one only. The positions and titles of officials included in each rank are defined by each Head.
- Head of a Sodalitas
- 6 CP
- 6 CP (past service)
- Person of High Authority:
- 4 CP
- 4 CP (past service)
- Person of Minor Authority:
- 2 CP
- 2 CP (past service)
III. Status Points
In recognition of the founding dynasties of Nova Roma, and in consideration of their religious responsibilities towards the sacra publica, patrician citizens receive a small amount of Census Points for their status.
- Patriciatus:
- 5 CP
IV. Treasury Points
Treasury Points are given for special contributions to the Nova Roman treasury during taxation periods:
- Citizens paying 5 times the basic tax (3 times the basic tax for Roman reenactors and officially certified Latinists):
- 25 CP plus the title tribunus aerarius equestris
- Citizens paying 15 times the basic tax (9 times the basic tax for Roman reenactors and officially certified Latinists):
- 400 CP plus the title eques equo privato
V. Cultural Points
- Contest Winner:
- 3 CP
- Contest 2nd place:
- 2 CP
- Contest 3rd place:
- 1 PC
- Extraordinary Contest Prizes (more serious, more difficult contests with special senate permission):
- Awarded places:
- 4-400 CP
- Participants:
- 1-3 CP
The points below must be proven to the censores by certificates:
- Citizen has MA from a Romanitas subject:
- 10 CP
- Citizen has PhD from Romanitas subject:
- 20 CP
The points below must be proven by participation in a Latin course recognized or conducted by Nova Roma, or by an examination conducted by a committee of Nova Roman Latin teachers:
- Citizens attempts learning Latin:
- 3 CP
- Elementary knowledge of Latin:
- 5 CP
- Intermediate knowledge of Latin:
- 10 CP
- Latin speaker and writer, fluency:
- 20 CP
VI. Activity Points =
The censors may award these Census Points but only if there is sufficient evidence proving the case. In case of an event organization or participation, photos must be uploaded to the Nova Roma website, or in case of 24 hours work, the superior of the officer must testify about it.
- A serious achievement in Romanitas subject (can be awarded for more than one achievement). For example: publisher of a high quality website on Roman studies, author of book, blog, high quality production or event:
- 30 CP
- Reenactor:
- 10 CP
- Roman military junior officer reenactor:
- 15 CP
- Roman military senior officer reenactor / Group leader:
- 20 CP
- Organizer of NR Event:
- 4 CP
- Participant in NR Event:
- 2 CP
- 24 hours of work on something verified by superior:
- 1 CP
VII. Merit Points
The four aediles, collectively, in case there is no opposition, may award citizens who excellent in the Nova Roma community with useful, productive activity:
- Award for excellence in the month:
- 1 CP
Magistrates with imperium may award, subject to quaestorial or censorial scrutiny and prohibition, and the senate can award the following amounts of Census Points:
- Minor award for a NR achievement:
- 3 CP
- Medium award for a NR achievement:
- 6 CP
- Major award for a NR achievement:
- 9 CP
- Premium award for a NR achievement:
- 13 CP
- Highest award for a NR achievement:
- 15 CP
Only the senate can award the following extraordinary awards:
- Extraordinary awards, amounts decided by the senate:
- 16-400, 400, or 1000 CP
- Pater Patriae:
- 1000 CP
- 1000 CP (past holder)
Only a fully Nova Roman reenactment legion can propose, and the senate can recognize the following award:
- Imperator (for military reenactment achievements with imperium and major actions saving Nova Roma):
- 100 CP
VII. Point Deductions
Census points can be deducted from citizens as measures defined by law.
A. Deduction for non-payment of taxes: each non-paid year results in -100 CP deduction, until the census of the citizen reaches 0 CP. The deduction shall be calculated only when the citizen makes the first new payment after the hiatus. The citizen receives this deduction for the first new payment. When the citizen pays again in the next year, he starts receiving back +25 CP for each paid new year until it deletes the all deductions for non-payment. When, after the payment hiatus, the citizen pays continuously for the 5th time (in the 5th year after the hiatus), he receives back all deducted CP at once.
Examples:
Citizen „A” had 64 CP, and misses 6 years in 2016-2020. He pays for 2021, and then he is deducted -600 CP for missing the previous 5 years, but it can’t be lower than 0, so he has 0 CP for 2021. Then he pays for 2022, again, and then he starts receiving back his first +25 CP, so he will have 25 CP in total in 2022, and if he pays in 2023, he will have 50 CP, and if he pays in 2024, he will only receive 14 more CP, becausse he cannot receive more than the amount which he lost by deductions (64), so he will have all 64 CP back in 2024.
Citizen „B” had 135 CP, and misses 2 years 2019-2020. He pays for 2021, and then he is deducted -200 CP, so he has 0 CP in 2021. Then he pays for 2022, again, and then he starts receiving back his first +25 CP, so he will have 25 CP in total in 2022, and if he pays in 2023, he will have 50 CP, and if he pays in 2024, he will have 75 CP, in 2025, however, he will receive back all 135 CP at once, because all deducted CP are reinbursed at the time of the 5th uninterrupted year of taxpayment.
B. Renouncing citizenship or failing to answer the census: the citizen who renounces his citizenship or who fails to register on the census loses all Census Points, but he can regain it back in the same manner as described above regarding the deduction for non-payment of taxes (in a maximum 5 year process).
