Note 239 — Chapter XV · THE ROMANS

It may be worth while to indicate briefly the relation between the senatorial authority and the executive power at Rome. Unless the senate acted at the instance of the magistrate himself, a senatusconsultum was an advisory resolution, passed upon motion and suggesting to the holder of executive power, or imperium, a certain course of action. The words were generally: Placet senatui ut A. A., N. N. consules, alter ambove, si eis videretur, ilia faciant. In practice, it is true, such a resolution was almost mandatory. A strong magistrate, however, or a rash one, might and did disregard it. While, accordingly, a magistrate might neglect a course of action prescribed by the senate, there was nothing to hinder any action on his part (whether or not there was senatorial authority for it), except the veto power residing in the tribune or in an equal or superior magistrate. The only restrictions were made by the laws concerning the inviolability of the person of a civis Romanus, and of the aerarium.