Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Definition: Judicia populi is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers to the criminal jurisdiction of the comitia, which was an assembly of the Roman people gathered together for legislative or judicial purposes. Women were excluded from participation.
Example: The Comitia Centuriata was an assembly of the entire populace, voting by centuries (that is, military units) empowered to elect magistrates and to act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It was a military organization on the basis of property during the regal period, but it became a legislative body under the Republic, ousting the Comitia Curiata.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the Comitia Centuriata was a type of comitia that had the power to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It was a significant assembly that played a crucial role in the Roman Republic's legislative and judicial processes.
Example: The Comitia Curiata was the oldest of the four assemblies of the Roman people. It consisted of the Populus Romanus in its thirty curies (or family groups) during the regal period. It could meet only by summons of the King and merely accepted or rejected the proposals submitted by him, without the right of discussion or amendment.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the Comitia Curiata was a type of comitia that had limited legislative power. It was mainly responsible for authorizing private acts of citizens, such as declaring wills and adoptions. Its main importance lay in its meetings under pontifical presidency to deal with matters of religious significance, such as adrogations and wills.
Example: The Comitia Tributa was an assembly of tribes convened to elect lower-ranking officials. It was a regional classification, and the influence of numbers predominated. The comitia tributa undertook a great deal of legislative activity in the later Roman Republic.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the Comitia Tributa was a type of comitia that had the power to elect lower-ranking officials. It was an assembly that represented the whole Roman people in their tribes, and its influence was based on numbers. It played a significant role in the legislative activity of the later Roman Republic.