Roman senate

The Roman Senate was a deliberative body which was important in the functioning of both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Originally an advisory body, the Senate became powerful during the Republic because former officials all became part of the body.

The power in Rome was shared between Senate and populus (people), as celebrated in the famous acronym S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populus Que Romae)^†.

The Senate continued its existence under the Roman Empire, although it lost its legislative powers before the end of the first century AD. It survived the end of the Empire, and its last recorded acts were the dispatch of two embassies to the Imperial Court at Constantinople in AD 578 and 580.

See also Senate

^† Several interpretations have been suggested for the correct meaning of the acronym depending on the presumed declination of 'R' which can be Romanus (Senatus or Populus), Romani (Senatus and Populus) or Romae (of Rome).