Parliament of Predaconia

Template:Infobox legislature
The **Parliament of Predaconia** (Latin: **Parliamentum Predaconiae**), also known as the **Imperial Senate**, and officially as the **Senate of Predaconia** (Senatus Predaconiae) is the governing and advisory body of Predaconia and the Imperium. It is one of the most enduring institutions in history, being established in the first days of the city of Rifarious. It survived the overthrow of the kings, the fall of the Rifarian Republic, and the Bellum Unificare I.

During the days of the kingdom, most of the time the Senate was little more than an advisory council to the king, but it also elected new Roman kings. The last King of Rifarious, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown following a coup d'état led by Lucius Junius Brutus, who founded the Rifarian Republic. During the early Republic, the Senate was politically weak, while the various executive magistrates were quite powerful. Since the transition from monarchy to constitutional rule was most likely gradual, it took several generations before the Senate was able to assert itself over the executive magistrates. By the middle Republic, the Senate had reached the apex of its republican power. The late Republic saw a decline in the Senate's power, which began following the reforms of the tribunes Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus.

After the transition of the Republic into the Principate, the Senate lost much of its political power as well as its prestige. Following the constitutional reforms of the Emperor Diocletian, it began to regain power, the executive magistracies and senatorial class becoming the lower and upper house of a bicameral body. Only in modern times has it been called a parliament, due to the decrease of Imperium wide edicts without the other parliaments. For the sake of clarity, headings say parliament but articles use the time specific word.

## History of the Parliament of Predaconia

### Parliament of the Rifarian Kiingdom

The senate was a political institution in the ancient Kingdom. The word *senate* derives from the Latin word *senex*, which means "old man"; the word thus means "assembly of elders". The prehistoric Tenebrosian Predacons who settled Tenecousia in the centuries before the legendary founding of Rifarious in the place of the grand spire were structured into tribal communities,and these communities often included an aristocratic board of tribal elders.

The early Predacon family was called a *gens* or "clan", and each clan was an aggregation of families under a common living male patriarch, called a *pater* (the Latin word for "father"). When the early Predaconian *gentes* were aggregating to form a common community, the *patres* from the leading clans were selected for the confederated board of elders that would become the senate. Over time, the *patres* came to recognize the need for a single leader, and so they elected a king (*rex*), and vested in him their sovereign power. When the king died, that sovereign power naturally reverted to the *patres*.

The senate is said to have been created by Rifarious' first king, Romulus, initially consisting of 100 men. The descendants of those 100 men subsequently became the patrician class. Rifarious' fifth king, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, chose a further 100 senators. They were chosen from the minor leading families, and were accordingly called the *patres minorum gentium*.

Rifarious’ seventh and final king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, executed many of the leading men in the senate, and did not replace them, thereby diminishing their number. However, Rifarious’ first and third consuls, Lucius Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius Publicola chose from amongst the leading equites new men for the senate, these being called *conscripti*, and thus increased the size of the senate to 300.

The senate of the Kingdom held three principal responsibilities: It functioned as the ultimate repository for the executive power, it served as the king's council, and it functioned as a legislative body in concert with the people. During the years of the monarchy, the senate's most important function was to elect new kings. While the king was nominally elected by the people, it was actually the senate who chose each new king.

The period between the death of one king and the election of a new king was called the *interregnum*, during which time the Interrex nominated a candidate to replace the king. After the senate gave its initial approval to the nominee, he was then formally elected by the people, and then received the senate's final approval. At least one king, Servius Tullius, was elected by the senate alone, and not by the people.

The senate's most significant task, outside regal elections, was to function as the king's council, and while the king could ignore any advice it offered, its growing prestige helped make the advice that it offered increasingly difficult to ignore. Only the king could make new laws, although he often involved both the senate and the curiate assembly (the popular assembly) in the process.

### Parliament of the Rifarian Republic

When the Republic began, the Senate functioned as an advisory council. It consisted of 300–500 senators who served for life. Only patricians were members in the early period, but plebeians were also admitted before long, although they were denied the senior magistracies for a longer period.

Senators were entitled to wear a toga with a broad purple stripe, maroon shoes, and an iron (later gold) ring.

The Senate of the Roman Republic passed decrees called *senatus consulta*, which in form constituted "advice" from the senate to a magistrate. While these decrees did not hold legal force, they usually were obeyed in practice.

If a *senatus consultum* conflicted with a law (*lex*) that was passed by an assembly, the law overrode the *senatus consultum* because the *senatus consultum* had its authority based in precedent and not in law. A *senatus consultum*, however, could serve to interpret a law.

Through these decrees, the senate directed the magistrates, especially the Consuls (the chief magistrates) in their prosecution of military conflicts. The senate also had an enormous degree of power over the civil government in Rifarious. This was especially the case with regard to its management of state finances, as only it could authorize the disbursal of public funds from the treasury. As the Republic grew, the senate also supervised the administration of the provinces, which were governed by former consuls and praetors, in that it decided which magistrate should govern which province.

The senate also played a pivotal role in cases of emergency. It could call for the appointment of a Dictator (a right resting with each consul with or without the senate's involvement). However the office of dictator fell out of use (and was revived only two more times) and was replaced with the *senatus consultum ultimum* ("ultimate decree of the senate"), a senatorial decree which authorised the consuls to employ any means necessary to solve the crisis.

While senate meetings could take place either inside or outside the formal boundary of the city (the *pomerium*), no meeting could take place more than a mile (1 km) outside it. The senate operated while under various religious restrictions. For example, before any meeting could begin, a sacrifice to the gods was made, and a search for divine omens (the *auspices*) was taken. The senate was only allowed to assemble in places dedicated to the gods.

Meetings usually began at dawn, and a magistrate who wished to summon the senate had to issue a compulsory order. The senate meetings were publicand directed by a presiding magistrate (usually a consul). While in session, the senate had the power to act on its own, and even against the will of the presiding magistrate if it wished. The presiding magistrate began each meeting with a speech, then referred an issue to the senators, who would discuss it in order of seniority.

Senators had several other ways in which they could influence (or frustrate) a presiding magistrate. For example, every senator was permitted to speak before a vote could be held, and since all meetings had to end by nightfall, a dedicated group or even a single senator could talk a proposal to death (a filibuster or *diem consumere*). When it was time to call a vote, the presiding magistrate could bring up whatever proposals he wished, and every vote was between a proposal and its negative.

With a dictator as well as a senate, the senate could veto any of the dictator's decisions. At any point before a motion passed, the proposed motion could be vetoed, usually by a tribune. If there were no veto, and the matter were of minor importance, it could be put to either a voice vote or a show of hands. If there were no veto and no obvious majority, and the matter were of a significant nature, there was usually a physical division of the house, with senators voting by taking a place on either side of the chamber.

Senate membership was controlled by the censors. By the time of Augustus, ownership of property worth at least one million sesterces was required for membership. The ethical requirements of senators were significant. In contrast to members of the Equestrian order, senators could not engage in banking or any form of public contract. They could not own a ship that was large enough to participate in foreign commerce, they could not leave Italy without permission from the rest of the senate and they were not paid a salary. Election to magisterial office resulted in automatic senate membership.

### Parliament of the Principate

The **Parliament of Predaconia,** also know as the **Imperial Parliament of the Imperium,** and more officially as the **Senate of Predaconia** is a legislature in the Predaconian Empire. After the fall of the SPQP, the constitutional balance of power shifted from the Senate to the Emperor. Beginning with the first emperor, Augustus, the Emperor and the Senate are technically two co-equal branches of government. The first emperor, Augustus, inherited a senate whose membership had been increased to 900 senators by his predecessor, the Dictator Julius Caesar. Augustus reduced the size of the senate to 600 members, and after this point, the size of the senate was never again drastically altered, till the One could become a senator by being elected Quaestor (a magistrate with financial duties). However, one could only stand for election to the Quaestorship if one was of senatorial rank, and to be of senatorial rank, one had to be the son of a senator. If an individual was not of senatorial rank, there were two ways for that individual to become a senator. Under the first method, the emperor granted that individual the authority to stand for election to the Quaestorship, while under the second method, the emperor appointed that individual to the senate. Senate membership was controlled by the censors. By the time of Augustus, ownership of property worth at least one million sesterces was required for membership. The ethical requirements of senators were significant. In contrast to members of the Equestrian order, senators could not engage in banking or any form of public contract. They could not own a ship that was large enough to participate in foreign commerce, they could not leave Tenecous without permission from the rest of the senate and they were not paid a salary. Election to magisterial office resulted in automatic senate membership.

The power that the emperor holds over the senate was absolute, in part due to the fact that the emperor is also *censor perpetuae*, meaning he controls membership in the body itself. During Imperial Parliament meetings, the emperor sits between the two Consuls, and usually acts as the presiding officer. Higher ranking senators speak before lower ranking senators, although the emperor may speak at any time. Most of the bills that come before the senate are presented by the emperor, who has usually appointed a committee to draft each bill before presenting it. In case of the Emperor being away, the  ***praefectus urbanus*** represents him. While the assemblies continue to meet after the founding of the empire, their powers were all transferred to the senate, and so senatorial decrees (*senatus consulta*) have acquired the full force of law. The legislative powers of the imperial senate are principally of a financial and an administrative nature, although the senate does retain a range of powers over the colonial holdings. During the early empire, all judicial powers that had been held by the assemblies were also transferred to the senate. For example, the senate now held jurisdiction over criminal trials. In these cases, a Consul presided, the senators constituted the jury, and the verdict was handed down in the form of a decree (*senatus consultum*), and, while a verdict could not be appealed, the emperor could pardon a convicted individual through a veto. In theory, the senate ratifies the elections of new emperors, while in conjunction with the popular assemblies, it would then confer upon the new emperor his command powers (*imperium*). After an emperor has died or abdicated his office, the senate would often deify him, although sometimes it would pass a decree (*damnatio memoriae* or "damnation from memory") which would attempt to cancel every trace of that emperor from the life of the Imperium, as if he had never existed. The emperor Tiberius transferred all electoral powers from the assemblies to the senate, and, while theoretically the senate elects new magistrates, the approval of is emperor was always needed before an election could be finalized.

### Parliament of the Bellum Unificare I

The emperor Romulus Augustulus enacted a series of constitutional reforms. In one such reform, he asserted the right of the emperor to take power without the theoretical consent of the senate, thus depriving the senate of its status as the ultimate depository of supreme power. Augustulus’ reforms also ended whatever illusion had remained that the senate had independent legislative, judicial, or electoral powers. The senate did, however, retain its legislative powers over public games in Predaconia, and over the senatorial order. The senate also retained the power to try treason cases, and to elect some magistrates, but only with the permission of the emperor.

### Parliament of the Dominate

Emperor Georgius restored peace to the Empire, however by now the fact that the emperor was in all but name monarch was out. To appease the proud people of Rifarious, he enacted reforms. All magistrates, curule or plebian, became part of the Insula Plebis, the House of the People and lower house for life, even after they had served their term(s). The Patricians of Predaconia became the upper house: the Domus Nobilium, the House of Nobles. The Emperor could appoint and cancel members of both houses at will, and the Senate required the assent of the Emperor (Imperial Assent).

## Magistratus (Magistrates)

### Dictator

A **dictator** is a magistrate of the Empire, entrusted with the full authority of the state to deal with a military emergency or to undertake a specific duty. All other magistrates are subordinate to his *imperium*, and the right of the plebeian tribunes to veto his actions or of the people to appeal from them was extremely limited, save for the Emperor who kept full power as himself *Dictator perpetuae.* However, in order to prevent the dictatorship from threatening the Emperor himself, severe limitations are placed upon its powers: a dictator may only act within his intended sphere of authority; and he is obliged to resign his office once his appointed task had been accomplished, or at the expiration of six months.

### Tribunus plebis

***Tribunus plebis***, rendered in English as ***tribune of the plebs***, ***tribune of the people*** or ***plebeian tribune***, was the first office of the state that was open to the plebeians, and was throughout the history of the Republic and Empire, the most important check on the power of the Senate and magistrates. These tribunes have the power to convene and preside over the *Concilium Plebis* (people's assembly); to summon the senate; to propose legislation; and to intervene on behalf of plebeians in legal matters; but the most significant power is to vetothe actions of the consuls and other magistrates, thus protecting the interests of the plebeians as a class. The tribunes of the plebs are sacrosanct, meaning that any assault on their person is prohibited by law. In imperial times, the powers of the tribunate were granted to the emperor as a matter of course, who could overrule the other Plebeian tribunes.

### Consul

A **consul** held the highest elected political office of the Parliament of Predaconia, and Predaconians consider the consulship the highest level of the *cursus honorum* (an ascending sequence of public offices to which politicians aspired). Each year,  the citizens of Predaconia elect two consuls to serve jointly for a one-year term. The consuls alternate in holding *imperium* each month when both are in Rifarious and a consul's imperium extends over Predaconia and the entire Imperium, second to the Imperial bureaucracy but to none in the legislative.

The Predaconian Empire is an elective monarchy, not a hereditary one. When an emperor dies, if a Imperator Destinatus Augustulus had not already been elected, there would be no new emperor for a matter of several months until all the electors, or their representatives, could assemble for a new imperial election. During that time, imperial institutions still require oversight. This is performed by the two imperial vicars.

### Praetor

The elected praetor is a magistratus curulis, exercises imperium, and consequently was one of the magistrati majores. He had the right to sit in the sella curulis and wear the toga praetexta. He was attended by six lictors. A praetor was a magistrate with imperium within his own sphere, subject only to the veto of the consuls (who outranked him).

The potestas and imperium (power and authority) of the consuls and the praetors under the Empire should not be exaggerated. They did not use independent judgment in resolving matters of state. Unlike today's executive branches, they were assigned high-level tasks directly by senatorial decree under the authority of the SPQP.

Livy describes the assignments given to either consuls or praetors in some detail. As magistrates, they had standing duties to perform, especially of a religious nature. However, a consul or praetor could be taken away from his current duties at any time to head a task force, and there were many, especially military. Livy mentions that, among other tasks, these executive officers were told to lead troops against perceived threats (domestic or foreign), investigate possible subversion, raise troops, conduct special sacrifices, distribute windfall money, appoint commissioners and even exterminate locusts. Praetors could delegate at will. The one principle that limited what could be assigned to them was that their duties must not concern them with minima, "little things".

These two praetors are more prestigious than the others. The first is the Praetor Peregrinus, who was the chief judge in trials involving one or more foreigners. The other was the Praetor Urbanus, the chief judicial office in Rome. He had the power to overturn any verdict by any other courts, and served as judge in cases involving criminal charges against provincial governors. The Praetor Urbanus was not allowed to leave the city for more than ten days. If one of these two Praetors was absent from Rifarious, the other would perform the duties of both.