Roman Senate Authority

The book argues against simplistic views of imperial dominance by presenting a more nuanced depiction of shared power. For example, the Senate's ability to enact laws and administer provinces demonstrates its active role in governance. By analyzing senatorial decrees and historical events, the book shows how the Senate cooperated with, and at times subtly manipulated, emperors. Beginning with the Senate's composition and internal procedures, the book progresses to its legislative and judicial functions, ultimately assessing its gradual decline and legacy.

Utilizing primary sources like senatorial decrees and writings from historians like Tacitus, alongside modern scholarship, the book offers a unique perspective on the Senate as an active agent in Roman history. This analysis provides insights into political institutions, power dynamics, and checks and balances, relevant not only to students of Roman history, political science, and legal history but also to those interested in the broader implications for modern political systems.