Roman plebiscites

Plebiscita (Latin word from which the Spanish "plebiscito" derives) was the name of the decisions made by the Roman plebs in their assemblies. They gradually became more important. The 465 B.C. C. the dictator Quinto Hortensio made the law that forced all citizens to abide by the plebiscites vote for the Centuriated Elections. Although the assent of the Senate was not required, it was generally requested.

The Roman plebiscite, in its origin, designated the plebeian leaders, voted on norms of their interest (inviolability of the tribunes, protection of the Assemblies, right to vote, etc.) and exercised jurisdiction criminal on the commoners of the tribes.

Later, it extended its jurisdiction to matters of general interest, (first specifying from 471 BC the consent of the Senate for the presentation of the motion, consent that later disappeared around 449 BC, even though it was frequently requested) and the plebiscite acquires the force of law, without binding the patricians, and later (289 BC) binding all citizens.

Evolution of the law

The laws evolved and thus we see that the thief caught in flagrante could escape a sentence by paying double what was stolen.

The Petelia Law also modified the enforcement procedure against debtors.

The intervivos provision remained unlimited, and popular consent for acts mortis causa (testament) was abolished.

If the father of the family made three successive sales, without making any purchase, the son could emancipate himself if that was his wish. From this derived the legal emancipation granted by the father to a son, without the need for the cause that initially had to motivate it.

Civil marriage was consecrated and a tax was established for singles.

The establishment of a special Police magistrate (whose scope of action soon extended to all of Italy) called Edil curul, transferred to him the power over disputes relating to purchases and sales in public markets (products, livestock, slaves...). His jurisdiction also extended to other matters of order that could be punished with fines.

For the lower classes, and for certain minor crimes, there were the Triumviri or Night Judges (Tres viri nocturni) whose powers were increasing, and they began to be elected in the tribune elections from 289 BC. c.

For minor civil cases in the subject cities (civites sine suffragio) magistrates called Minor Judges were established, whose competence was later extended to all of Italy.

The magistrates defined the point of law (ius) but its application (judicium) corresponded to another citizen. But the slow and complicated trials were limited to outstanding cases, and for slaves and people of low social class a shorter procedure was applied.

Police. Public roads

Police control increases: sewage, paving, public cleaning, dilapidated buildings, vermin, car circulation (only allowed at night), communications, market supply, merchandise quality control, currency control, and weights, public baths, taverns and "suspicious" houses are their areas of action. The network of public roads (roads), aqueducts and fortresses is developed.

The censors Marco Aurelio Lépido and Marco Fulvio Nobilior, as part of their urban plan for the city of Rome, devised the construction of what would be the first stone bridge over a river. Called Pons Aemilia, it linked the city with the Forum Boarium, on the right bank of the Tiber. It was finished in the year 187 B.C. C. Now it is known in the city as Ponte Rotto.