Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Lex Centuriata: A law passed in ancient Rome by an assembly of people called comitia centuriata. This assembly was made up of the entire population, but only men who owned property could vote. The law was passed by voting in military units called centuries. This law was important because it allowed the people to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in serious cases.
Definition: Lex centuriata is a law passed in the comitia centuriata, which was an assembly of the Roman people gathered together for legislative or judicial purposes. It was a military organization based on property during the regal period, but it became a legislative body under the Republic.
Example: The Comitia Centuriata was empowered to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It included the whole Roman people arranged in classes according to their wealth, giving the preponderating power to the richest.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the Comitia Centuriata was a legislative body that had the power to elect magistrates and act as a court of appeal in a capital matter. It was based on property during the regal period, but it became a legislative body under the Republic. The assembly was arranged in classes according to their wealth, giving the preponderating power to the richest.