Senatus
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
In Roman Law. The senate. Also the place where the senate met.
Calv. Lex. SENATUS C0NSULTUM (Lat).
In Roman Law. A decree or decision of the Roman senate, which had the force of law. When the Roman people had so increased that there was no place where they could meet, it was found necessary to consult the senate, instead of the people, both on public affairs and those which related to individuals. The opinion which was rendered on such an occasion was called senatus consultum.
Inst. 1. 2. 5; Clef dcs Lois Rom.; Merlin, Rupert.
These decrees frequently derived their titles from the names of the consuls or magistrates who proposed them; as senatus-consultum Claudianum, Libonianum, Velleianum, etc., from Claudius, Libonius, Valleius.
Ayliffe, Pand. 30.