Simple English definitions for legal terms
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SENATUS CONSULTUM VELLEIANUM: The Senatus Consultum Velleianum was a law made by the Roman Senate in AD 46 to protect women from making unfair promises or taking on debts for their husbands or others. This law made it illegal to enforce such promises or debts, so women could not be held responsible for things they did not agree to.
Definition: The senatus consultum Velleianum was a decree passed by the Roman Senate in AD 46 to protect women from being held responsible for their husband's or other people's debts. This decree made it illegal to enforce any guarantees, suretyship undertakings, or debt assumptions made by women.
Example: If a woman's husband borrowed money from someone and couldn't pay it back, the lender couldn't force the woman to pay the debt under the senatus consultum Velleianum.
Explanation: This example illustrates how the senatus consultum Velleianum protected women from being held responsible for their husband's debts. Even if a woman had agreed to guarantee her husband's loan, the lender couldn't enforce that agreement under this decree.