Roman Institutions and Latin Declensions: A Foundation

Latin Declensions and Case Functions

The Five Latin Declensions

1. First Declension: -a / -ae
2. Second Declension: -o / -i
3. Third Declension: Consonant stem or -i / -is
4. Fourth Declension: -u / -us
5. Fifth Declension: -e / -ei

Grammatical Functions of Latin Cases

• Nominative (Nom): Subject, Predicate Attribute
• Vocative (Voc): Appellation
• Accusative (Ac): Direct Object (CD)
• Genitive (Ge): Noun Complement (CN)
• Dative (Dt): Indirect Object (CI)
• Ablative (Ab): Circumstantial Complement (CC)

The Roman Senate

The Senate was the most important institutional body of the Roman Republic. Although its political functions diminished during the Imperial Era, Senators retained immense social prestige. They wore the toga praetexta in public ceremonies and enjoyed reserved seating preferences in public entertainments.

Composition and Attributions

• Composition: Approximately 600 members, both at the beginning of the Republic and during the time of Julius Caesar.
• Attributions: The Senate served as a consultative body regarding national and religious matters. They supervised and controlled public finances, managed foreign policy, designated and received ambassadors, and oversaw military operations. The Senate could also enact emergency measures to guarantee national security.
• Sessions: Sessions were private. Senators were permitted to speak without interruption.

Key Roman Magistracies

Quaestor

Responsible for the finances of Rome and the army, including effecting payments in the provinces.

Aedile

Four magistrates (two Plebeian, two Curule) responsible for municipal administration, including public works, markets, and public games.

Praetor

Responsible for the administration of justice. Key roles included the Praetor Urbanus (dealing with Roman citizens) and the Praetor Peregrinus (dealing with foreigners).

Consul

The two chief executive magistrates, serving simultaneously. They gave their names to the year (eponymous), commanded the armies, and convened the Senate.

Censor

Two magistrates holding high power, primarily responsible for conducting the census (classifying citizens by wealth and moral standing).

Tribune of the Plebs

Initially two, later ten. Their mission was to defend the interests of the commoners (Plebeians) against abuse by the Patricians. They were the only magistrates who could call elections or assemblies and possessed the crucial right of veto.

The Power of the Censors and Roman Water Management

The Censors held significant power, managing public money, overseeing public contracts, and caring for roads and public buildings.

The famous Censor Appius Claudius Caecus (312 BC) was instrumental in bringing water to the city, distributing it via public sources. However, many citizens sought to bypass the law, installing underground pipes to divert water directly to their private homes instead of relying on public fountains.

Many years later, the Censor Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Elder) took office and enforced severe water laws, ensuring that citizens obtained water strictly from public sources, thereby restricting the use of private piping for public water supplies.