Roman Senate Authority explores the Roman Senate's pivotal, yet often debated, role in Roman governance, from the late Republic to the late Empire. This book investigates whether the Senate was a genuine partner in power with the emperors or merely a symbolic entity. It examines the Senate's internal procedures, legislative and judicial capacities, and its complex relationship with the emperor, revealing the evolving power dynamics within the Roman state. The book illuminates how the Senate, despite the rise of imperial authority, maintained significant influence, shaped by factors like the prevailing political climate and the Senate's own assertiveness.
The book argues against simplistic views of imperial dominance by presenting a more nuanced depiction of shared power. For example, the Senate's ability to enact laws and administer provinces demonstrates its active role in governance. By analyzing senatorial decrees and historical events, the book shows how the Senate cooperated with, and at times subtly manipulated, emperors. Beginning with the Senate's composition and internal procedures, the book progresses to its legislative and judicial functions, ultimately assessing its gradual decline and legacy.
Utilizing primary sources like senatorial decrees and writings from historians like Tacitus, alongside modern scholarship, the book offers a unique perspective on the Senate as an active agent in Roman history. This analysis provides insights into political institutions, power dynamics, and checks and balances, relevant not only to students of Roman history, political science, and legal history but also to those interested in the broader implications for modern political systems.
