2015/06/12 by Christoph Lundgreen · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Classical Antiquity Studies #Classical Studies and Legal History #Decree #Rhetoric #Politics #Political science #Law #Action (physics) #Order (exchange) #Position (finance) #Public administration #Sociology #Philosophy #Theology #Business
paper · doi:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah26387
openalex publication_date 2015/06/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Abstract In passing a so‐called senatus consultum ultimum , the Roman Senate expressed the opinion that an urgent threat had to be countered in order to preserve the res publica . Whereas such a decree could enhance the political authority of the magistrates’ action upon it, the s.c.u . neither changed their legal position nor deprived citizens of their right of a trial before the people. Contrary to the (modern) wording and the sometimes assumed notions of certain emergency powers, the s.c.u . should thus not be assessed from a legal perspective but from the point of political rhetoric.