Legal Definitions - leges tributae

Leges tributae refers to specific laws enacted in ancient Rome by an assembly known as the comitia tributa. This assembly was organized based on geographical tribes, and its purpose was to allow Roman citizens to vote on certain types of legislation, elect minor officials, and handle some judicial matters. Therefore, a lex tributa (the singular form) was a law that originated from the direct vote of the Roman people, grouped by their tribal affiliation, rather than from other legislative bodies like the Senate.

• Example 1: Imagine the Roman citizens, organized into their various tribes, gather to vote on a proposal to fund the construction of a new public market in a specific district of Rome. If this proposal passed through the comitia tributa, the resulting decree would be considered a lex tributa.

  This example illustrates a law (funding a market) being passed by the *comitia tributa* (citizens grouped by tribes voting), directly fitting the definition of a *lex tributa*.

• Example 2: Suppose there was a need to regulate the sale of certain agricultural goods within the city to ensure fair prices for both farmers and consumers. A tribune of the plebs might propose a new set of rules to the comitia tributa. If the assembly voted in favor, these new regulations would become a lex tributa.

  Here, the law (agricultural regulations) is proposed and then enacted by the *comitia tributa*, demonstrating its origin as a *lex tributa*.

• Example 3: Consider a situation where the Roman state needed to establish a new public holiday or festival to commemorate a significant event. A proposal for such a celebration, including its date and associated rituals, could be brought before the comitia tributa. If approved by the tribal vote, the establishment of this new holiday would be codified as a lex tributa.

  This example illustrates a law (establishing a holiday) that directly resulted from the voting process within the *comitia tributa*, making it a *lex tributa*.