Edicta dictatoris MMDCCLII

As you are doubtless aware, the last few days have been rough ones for our fair Republic. Accusations of unconstitutional conspiracy, a rift between the Board of Directors and the Government, the continued failure to establish the various Comitiae, and ill-feelings growing exponentially.

It was felt that the only way to resolve the crisis and still maintain continuity with what had gone before (and still act within the bounds of the Constitution), that a Dictator should be appointed to sort out the problems fairly, decisively, and legally. As I was not involved in the recent "impeachment" scandal even tangentially, am not a member of the Board of Directors, and am completely conversant with our Constitutional system, I was chosen to serve in that capacity.

As Decius Iunius Palladius said, this is not a time for congratulations, as it was the gravest of situations which brought us to this point. I have deliberately laid low in the world of Nova Roman politics as of late, but when called to serve, I fulfill my duty as any Roman would.

I would add that my appointment was made with the agreement that the officers and Board of Directors of the Corporation would completely cooperate with any reforms I might need to instigate regarding the relationship between the Corporation and the State.

Many problems are to blame for the crisis which has befallen us. Above all, problems with our Constitution and other institutions of government as they currently exist, a failure to reconcile the Government with the non-profit Corporation's officers and Board of Directors, and the impossibility of resolving any of these problems as long as the Assemblies remain unable to operate.

Finally, despite all of the problems which beset us, we *must* honor the Constitution, flawed though it may be. Previously, this has not been done, and the Constitution has been trampled in the name of necessity.

Several incidents come to mind. First and most egregious, elections of magistrates were held last December in violation of the procedures set forth in the Constitution, at the insistence of Lucius Equitius Cincinnatus. This same individual most recently attempted to instigate proceedings of impeachment against other magistrates. Whether one believes that the Censors needed to be removed or not, neither a Consul nor the Senate has the authority under our Constitution to undertake such an act.

Therefore, as legally appointed Dictator, I hereby decree:

1) The results of last December's elections, having been held using illegal procedures in the first place, are hereby nullified. Protempore magistrates shall be appointed forthwith, pending the calling of new elections to be held in accordance with established Constitutional procedures.

2) Lucius Equitius Cincinnatus, who has demonstrated a willingness to subvert and ignore the Constitution to achieve his desired ends, and as such represents a grave threat to the State, is hereby removed from membership in the Senate, his Citizenship is hereby revoked, and he is hereby banned from re-applying for Citizenship for a period of ten years.

I would at this time invite anyone who wishes to please contact me with ideas and suggestions regarding solutions to the various problems which plague our nation. I need input from all sides on the weighty issues that we face. While I may be Dictator, I do not believe that means I must be autocratic.

As legally-appointed Dictator, I hereby appoint the following individuals to their respective offices. Please note that, with minimal exceptions, these appointments represent a return to the state of affairs that existed before the Interregnum.

    Censor: Decius Iunius Palladius
    Censor: Flavius Vedius Germanicus
    Consul: (vacant)
    Consul: Decius Iunius Palladius
    Praetor Urbanus: Lucius Cornelius Sulla
    Praetor Urbanus: Marcus Mucius Scaevola Magister
    Aedilis Curule: Marcus Martianus Gangalius
    Aedilis Curule: Flavius Vedius Germanicus
    Aedilis Plebis: Antonius Gryllus Graecus
    Aedilis Plebis: (vacant)
    Quaestrix: Patricia Cassia
    Quaestor: Piperbarbus Ullerius Venator
    Tribunus Plebis: Quintus Caecilius Metellus
    Tribunus Plebis: (vacant)
    Tribune Militaris: Lucia Maria Fimbria

Administrationis Provinciales

    Praetor, America Austroccidentalis Provincia: (vacant)
    Propraetor, America Austrorientalis Provincia: Minervina Iucundia Flavia
    Praetor, America Boreoccidentalis Provincia: (vacant)
    Praetor, America Medioccidentalis Superior Provincia: (vacant)
    Praetor, Brasilia Provincia: (vacant)
    Propraetor, Britannia Provincia: Quinta Claudia Lucentia Aprica
    Praetor, California Provincia: Caius Aelius Ericius
    Praetor, Canada Occidentalis Provincia: (vacant)
    Propraetor, Canada Orientalis Provincia: Gaius Triumphius Cicero
    Praetor, Italia Provincia: Primus Fabius Cunctator
    Praetor, Laci Magni Provincia: Gaius Drusus Domitianus
    Propraetor, Lusitania Provincia: Antonius Gryllus Graecus
    Legata, Lusitania Provincia: Emilia Camunna Brittania
    Praetor, Mediatlantica Provincia: Flavius Vedius Germanicus
    Praetor, Mexico Provincia: (vacant)
    Proconsul, Nova Britannia Provincia: Marcus Cassius Iulianus
    Propraetor, Thule Provincia: Magnus Hadrianus Ingmarius Cogitatus Thuleus

As we honor the Goddess Concordia this day, I cannot help but be swept up in the radiance of Her presence. Her spirit must truly move among us, among all the Citizens of Nova Roma, if we are to overcome those troubles which have recently befallen our fair Republic. And it is in the spirit of Concordia that I wish to speak on the subject of the former Consul, Cincinnatus.

While I stand by my opinion of Cincinnatus as a politician, I am not deaf to the cries of his supporters and friends, many of whom have contacted me on his behalf. In the spirit of compromise and cooperation embodied by the great Goddess Concordia, I hereby decree that Cincinnatus may indeed once again be enlisted as a Citizen of our fair Republic, and I shall personally reinstall him in his sacred office of Flamen Martiales, on the sole proviso that he neither seek nor serve in political office, including the Senate, until 2,754 AUC (March of 2001), roughly a year and a half from now.

It is my sincere hope that he shall accept my offer in the spirit of concord and compromise in which it is made, and offer him my word that no ill-will shall be shown by myself to him; let there be a clean slate between us.

As legally-appointed Dictator, I hereby alter that requirement (that oaths must be posted on both the official email list and message board). The oath of office may henceforth be issued in any officially-sanctioned Nova Roma forum in front of three or more witnesses (such as the email list, the message board, a public event, etc.).

It is with great pleasure that I hereby announce Marcus Cornelius Felix as a member of the Collegium Pontificum with the title of Pontiff. This decision was made in consultation with our esteemed Pontifex Maximus, Marcus Cassius Julianus, and I am certain that he will make a fine addition to the ranks of the priesthood of our fair Republic, and shall prove invaluable in our restoration of the rites of the Religio Romana.

To date, some individuals mentioned in my original post elevating individuals to the Senate have not indicated a willingness to accept the post, whether in private email to me or by posting their Oath to the public list. Please note that the offer is now closed, and anyone who has not done so has given up their opportunity (some for very valid reasons, some out of spite, and some out of apathy).

Due to special circumstances, Gaius Triumphius Cicero was unable to send or receive email over the last few weeks, and thus was unable to know of or respond to my offer to elevate him to the Senate. Now that he's back on-line, he has indicated his wish to accept.

Therefore, as legally-appointed Dictator of Nova Roma, I hereby declare that Gaius Triumphius Cicero is elevated to membership in the Senate, with all of the duties and privileges that brings.

As legally appointed dictator of Nova Roma, I hereby declare that the album senatus shall consist of the following individuals:

   Caius Aelius Ericius
   Quintus Caecilius Metellus
   Marcus Cassius Iulianus
   Gaius Drusus Domitianus
   Antonius Gryllus Graecus
   Minervina Iucundia Flavia
   Decius Iunius Palladius
   Marcus Mucius Scaevola Magister
   Gaius Triumphius Cicero
   Flavius Vedius Germanicus

This edictum supercedes all others pertaining to Senatorial appointments and previous enrollment status.

As legally appointed Dictator, I hereby declare that Marcus Martianus Gangalius is no longer web master of the official Nova Roma web site. I hereby assume the office of curator araneum through the end of the year.

I do this for a variety of reasons. Chief among them is the fact that I, as censor, am in the process of developing a web-based database application to facilitate the smooth functioning of the censors' office, linking it to the online application form. It's going to be a lot of work, but hopefully it'll make the job of future censors a whole lot easier. Holding the office of web master will really help with this task. (I should say I intend to step down come December, and the post will be taken by whoever gets elected.)

Lucius Cornelius Sulla is hereby added to the album senatorium. His omission from the previous list was an error on my part.

As legally appointed dictator of Nova Roma, I hereby issue the following edicta:

1) Barring any unforeseen circumstances, effective at 11:59 PM eastern time, this upcoming Sunday August 1st, I hereby lay down the office of dictator. I further enjoin the Senate to vote upon the ratification of my actions in such manner as they shall see fit, according to their rules for debate and voting, within thirty days.

2) All edicta issued by me during my tenure as dictator (both previous and subsequent to this edictum) shall have legal precidence appropriate to their title as recorded in the aerarium Saturnii. That is, edicta shall have the legal authority of edicta issued by a dictator, Senatus consulta shall have the legal authority of an ordinarily-passed Senatus consultum, et cetera. A law enacted by my edictum may still be superceded by a law voted by the comitia, etc. Appointments are to be regarded as having been made according to whatever normal legal and/or constitutional process would be involved. All documents listed in the "provisional documents" section of the aerarium Saturnii are hereby put into effect as lex, decretum, Senatus consultum, constitution et cetera, as appropriate. I do reserve the right to make last-minute changes prior to my official laying down of my office. Merely because something was enacted by my edictum as dictator shall not necessarily imply that that thing bears with it the full weight of a dictator's edictum.

3) A general amnesty is hereby declared for all citizens of Nova Roma for their actions leading up to the interregnum, during it, and during my tenure as dictator. No prosecutions, public or private, shall be pursued for any crimes or misdeeds, real or perceived, conducted in such context.

4) Pursuant to #3 above, Lucius Equitus Cincinnatus may, should he wish, inform the censors should he wish to once again become a citizen of Nova Roma. Should he do so, he shall immediately be placed on the album senatorium, and the collegium pontificum shall consider his appointment as Flamen Martiales, according to their rules for debate and voting, within thirty days. He has indicated his desire not to run for elected office, and I take him at his word.

5) The requirement of magistrates to take an oath of office is hereby eliminated. The constitution makes sufficient provision to safeguard the honor and integrity of the State and its Religio. Should one or more of the comitia decide otherwise, they may enact such a requirement through a properly-enacted law.

6) Marcus Minucius Audens is hereby appointed Tribunis Militarium, and head of the Sodalitas Militarium.

7) The following individuals are hereby appointed as lictores curiata: Gaius Iunius Germanus, T Labienus Fortunatus, Gaius Iunius Germanus, Gaius Drusus Domitianus, Camillus Severus Antoninus, Flavius Vedius Germanicus, Decius Iunius Palladius, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Quinta Claudia Lucentia Aprica, Lucius Fabius Metellus, Augustina Iulia Caesaria Nocturnia, Lucinia Iunia Cypria, Marcus Martianus Gangalius, Marcus Minucius Audens, Junius Niger Montis, Gaius Olivarius Mezentius, Paulus Olympius Gallus, Lucius Petronius Gallus, Gaius Severus Marius Germanicus, Ambrosius Silvanus Virbius, Gnaeus Tarquinius Caesar, Titia Irisia, Gaius Triumphius Cicero, Piperbaru Ullerius Venator, Gaius Antonius Scaenicus, Gaius Augustus, Tiberius Caselius Sidonius, Publius Claudius Lucentius Severus, Marcus Equitius Lentulus, and Marcus Cornelius Felix. They are reminded that this is a purely ceremonial position, and yet a vital one wherein they act as witnesses to official acts, including the bestowing of Imperium upon certain elected magistrates.

8) The following individuals are hereby appointed as rogatores, their term to expire at the end of this year: Gaius Marius Merullus and T Labienus Fortunatus. I shall gladly act as advisor to them should they request my advice, as I am fully conversant with the voting process as it currently stands.

9) Lucia Maria Fimbria is hereby appointed as curatrix sermo, and shall be the moderator of the officially-sponsored Nova Roma email list. Her term shall expire at the end of this year, but she may run for a subsequent term should she wish to.

I shall be issuing a final statement regarding the changes I have implemented and my term as dictator, but in brief I would like to thank all of the citizens of Nova Roma who have assisted me in the tasks assigned my by the Senate, and it is my fervent wish that I leave us all a stronger Republic than we had before.