Juris civilis initia et progressus. Ad leges XII. Tabularum brevis commentatio. Ex Ulpiani Fragmentorum Tituli XXIX. selectis notis illustrati. Gaii ex veteris jurisprudentiae Fragmentis Institutionu (1572) - Page 5

I. CHANGE.

Consuls created.

With the royal name expelled, two Consuls were immediately created: to these were given all the rights and all the insignia of the kings, and the laws of the kings fell into contempt. Therefore the power of establishing law was transferred to the Senate: the people alone retained for themselves the judgment over the life of a Roman citizen, and left mild coercion to the Senate.

Senatusconsulta Decrees of the Senate.

From that time, therefore, until the Emperor Alexander, a great deal began to be attributed to the decrees of the Senate. For the Senate not only decreed concerning those things which pertained to the majesty and greatness of the Republic: but it also interposed its authority if the affairs of private citizens demanded it.

II. CHANGE.

Dictator created and Master of the Horse.

Afterwards, because the law of Publicola made the judgments of the Consuls ineffective, and in order that the judgment of the Roman people might not be bypassed, with an appeal to the plebs granted to the accused, a Dictator was appointed: two axes were added to him for terror. And a Master of the Horse was added: to him fell the care of holding games, holidays, elections, reading the Senate, and establishing the Republic.

III. CHANGE.

Tribunes of the plebs created.

BUT because the plebs found that they were being captured and oppressed at home by the more powerful, and that there was safer liberty in war than in peace, and among enemies than among citizens, having made a secession, they created Tribunes for themselves, whom they might oppose to the Consuls. The power and capacity of these was such that they could intercede against the power of the magistrates, and even against the authority of the dictator. Furthermore, as often as it seemed necessary, they had the power of holding and dissolving the Senate, and of interceding. These Tribunes then asked the plebs: Plebiſcita Plebeian decrees. what the plebs ordered was valid and firm: thence arose Plebiscites.