What Does Drinking Spearmint Tea Do For You

The excellence of the Constitution of the Roman West and Consumerism

VI of Stories From the Book of Polybius (about 203 to . C. - 120 to . C.)

As I said above, were three organs of States that share the authority, their power was divided and distributed so well that even the Romans could say for sure whether their government was on the whole aristocratic, democratic, or monarchical. Neither is the case with wonder, for considering the power of the consuls, one would have said the state's Roman monarchical form, considering that the Senate said it would be noble, if someone had finally seen the authority of the people, certainly would have called Roman democratic state. The prerogatives of each of these organs, during the war against Hannibal, and, except a few minor exceptions, to this day are those who now say.

12. The consuls are not far away when in command of the legions, but they are in Rome, exercise executive power. The other commanders, with the exception of the tribunes, are submitted to them and obey their orders, they are ambassadors to the Senate, the proposed emergency ordinance, shall ensure the implementation of the measures. Instead, as regards public affairs expertise of the people, the consuls are responsible for bringing together the meetings, to submit their laws, to execute the decrees of the majority. With regard to war preparations and conduct of operations, have an almost absolute power: they have the right to make any imposition on allies to elect tribunes, to recruit soldiers to choose between them with suitable, while they are also in the field may want to punish their subordinates. Also have the power to spend the assets of the exchequer to the extent appropriate and believe that accompanies a quaestor ready to carry out their orders. Considering their authority, the monarchy would be fair to define the Roman constitution. What I said does not lose its validity even if the present or in future any change to happen in the organs of which I have treated or in those of which I will speak later.

13. The Senate has first of all the administrative power and control of all revenues and all outputs. The Quaestors it can not under any circumstances expenditure items without the approval of the Senate, except those imposed by the consuls, the Senate also controls the allocation by far the most conspicuous of all others, determine what the censors every five years for the construction and rehabilitation of public works and shall give its clearance to the censors themselves. In addition, the Senate has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Italy and require an investigation into the state, such as those of treason, conspiracy, of poisoning, assassination. But if an individual or a city of Roman Italy require the resolution of a dispute, to punish a crime, or for help in the defense, the care of all that is entrusted to the Senate. If you need send out a delegation of Italy to settle disagreements, pay orders or exhortations or impose finally to receive a submission or declare a war, the Senate must ensure this and also should receive the ambassadors who come to Rome and give each the appropriate response. None of these tasks lies with the people, so if a stranger arrives in Rome in the absence of the consul, the Roman constitution is quite obviously the aristocracy, many Greeks and many kings are convinced of this, because the Senate is all that matters concern them.

14. A Now you have the right to ask what the part is never government left the people, since, as we have said, the Senate is the arbiter of all particular issues and administers all the above inputs and outputs, while the consuls decide what concerns the preparations for war and during the expeditions have full powers. Yet even the people has left a significant proportion of the government. The people it is the sole arbiter of the allocation of honors and punishments, shall exercise that power on which depends the dynasties, the republics and the whole life subsidiary. The people who do not know the distinction between rewards and punishment or that, even knowing it, apply it badly, it can not administer their subjects as we ought: how could if the good and evil have equal esteem? The people also spoke to apply the fines when the fault is worthy of serious punishment, and particularly to the detriment of senior magistrates, and is the only one who can judge of capital crimes. About this applies to the Romans a custom worthy of praise and words: after it has been pronounced a death sentence, although it lacks only the votes of the last tribes to enforce the sentence, they shall by law to the offender may leave in voluntary exile. The prisoners can repair in Naples, Preneste, Tivoli Federated and in any other city. The people then allocate public posts to the worthy ones, and they are considered the best prize of virtue, also has the power to pass laws and especially to decide on peace and war, it's finally confirm its sanction or to terminate the covenants of peace and truce, so you could say to reason that the people have the highest authority in the government and the Roman constitution is democratic.

15. After showing how political power is distributed among the various organs of state, I will say now as they have the power to oppose each other, or to cooperate in the common interest. When the console, invested with the authority that is proper, with part of the legions, apparently he has full clout to implement his plans, but it really needs the support of the people and the Senate, and without these can not carry out any business. Clearly it is essential that the soldiers are sent supplies, but without the vote of the Senate's legions can not be refilled nor food, nor clothing, no money, so that the plans of the consuls can absolutely futile if the Senate decides to Opposition to obstruct and to exercise. Thus depends on the senate that the projects of the consuls are brought to fruition or not, it also has the right to send another commander when the annual term has expired, or to confirm the consul in charge. In addition, the Senate has the power to celebrate and enlarge or shrink and seem insignificant to the success of the commanders, because if the Senate does not allocate and allocate the money necessary, consuls can not celebrate with affordable beauty and sometimes even modestly so-called triumphs, with which make known to the people the importance of the historic achievements. Similarly, the consuls, although for a long time remain far from their homeland, they must do everything possible to keep the favor of people who, as I said above, with her vote canceled or penalizes the terms of peace treaties. Finally, what is more important, if they renounce the office, the consuls are accountable for their actions, so that overall it is impossible for them do without the kindness of the senate or the people.

16. The Senate, in turn, although he had such authority, is obliged to take into account in public affairs of the will of the people and indeed can not lead to the end, if the people did not confirm its preliminary decision, the processes most important for political crimes and most serious of which is scheduled for the death penalty. The same can be repeated for the crimes that concern him, for if a law is proposed to phase the powers traditionally held by the Senate or the privileges and honors of the Senate or, by Jove, to limit their private fortunes, it's people approve or reject the law. Furthermore, if one of tribunes, interposed his veto, the Senate can not implement its decisions and even hold seats in the curia, or elsewhere, the tribunes of the people and act always in accordance with his wishes. For all these reasons, the Senate has reason to fear the people and usargli regard.

17. Likewise the people are bound to the Senate and must take account of his wishes is to defend the interests of both public and private. The Quaestors to outsource many works throughout Italy for the construction and preservation of public property, it is a lot of great work to fix the course of rivers, ports, cultures, mines throughout the territory which is under the jurisdiction Roman execution of these works is administered by the people who are interested in procurement and gains related to them, some take it personally contracts, others participate in society, to ensure other contractors, and others damage deposit their assets to the Treasury to guarantee the contracts themselves. Of all these operations the Senate decides who has the power to grant extensions to deadlines to ease the burden, to terminate contracts if it is impossible to run them. In many ways therefore the Senate can damage and help those who work for the state, because by addressing all the issues that concern them. But the most important thing is that the members Senate shall be elected by the judges of the public and private processes of some importance, so people are bound to the Senate and fear of being able to be in need, watching from the stand and opposing its decisions. Equally difficult to oppose the will of the consuls, the fact that during the military expeditions are in their power both individually and collectively.

18. Individual government bodies can therefore damage each other or work together, the relationship between the various authorities is so well put together that you can not find a better establishment of the Roman. Indeed, when a common danger from the outside overhang and forces Romans agreed to a partnership, the state acquires this much power and that nothing is neglected, indeed all do what is necessary and the measures taken are never late, because every citizen individually and collectively working to implement them. It follows that the Romans are insurmountable and that their creation is perfect in all respects. Then, when freed from external concerns, they enjoy being a result of their successful achievements and live in peace if idleness and quiet, as usually happens, someone leaves the arrogance and pride, now intervenes to defend the constitution state authority. Indeed, if one of the bodies that constitute it becomes too powerful in comparison to others and act with arrogance, it is not independent as we have said, but as individual bodies linked together and controlled in their action, none of them can act with violence and its own initiative. Each then held within the prescribed limits or for failing to implement their plans or because they feared from the beginning, the control of others.