EDICTUM CENSORIS CFQ XXII DE APPROBATIONIBUS

Censorial Edict from Caeso Fabius Quintilianus XXII dealing with approvals

Preamble

For the purpose of this Edictum, and as per Lex Labiena de Gentibus, the Familia is recognised as the basic unit of society in Nova Roma. Gentes are composed of many different familiae that share the same nomen. Pater/Materfamilias are head of these officially recognised familiae and not of the gentes.

This Edictum spells out the procedures that the Censores will follow in dealing with the approval of prospective citizens to Nova Roma.

I.1. Introduction

I.1.1. This Edictum is based on Lex Labiena de Gentibus :

http://www.novaroma.org/tabularium/leges/2003-12-24-ii.html

And takes into consideration the fact that Familiae are now the basic social units of Nova Roma. As such Pater/Materfamilias are now head of Familiae (natural or adopted) and not Gentes as was previously the case.

I.1.2. This Edictum takes the Lex Equitia De Tirocinio Civium Novorum into consideration and confirms the probationary period of 90 (ninety) days before Nova Roman citizenship can entitle the prospective citizen to vote and stand for office.

I.1.2. This Edictum revokes the right of current heads of Gentes (until now also known as Pater/Materfamiliares) to approve or reject the application of a prospective citizen to join a particular Gens.

I.1.3. This Edictum confirms the right of heads of Familiae known as Pater/Materfamilias to approve or reject the application of a prospective citizen to join a particular Familia.

II.2. Approval authority.

II.2.1. Censorial issues related to the Familia in Nova Roma.

II.2.1.1. Each Familia duly registered with the censorial office will be headed by a Pater/Materfamilias chosen as per the recommendations found in Lex Labiena de Gentibus.

II.2.1.2. Each Domus duly registered with the censorial office will be confirmed in its position by the right of using a reserved and specific cognomen within a Gens to differentiate itself from other Domus in that Gens. No prospective or existing citizen of a particular Gens may choose the cognomen of a Familia already existing within that Gens, unless the prospective citizen has been approved by the Pater/Materfamilias or the existing citizen has gone through the process of Adoption (either adoptio or adrogatio) as per Edictum Censoris Quintiliani de Nominibus.

II.2.2. The authority of the Pater/Materfamilias The Pater/Materfamilias of a Familia duly registered with the censorial office will have the ultimate authority in accepting or rejecting the application of any prospective citizen wishing to join this Familia.

II.2.3. The duty of the Pater/Mater Familias in guiding prospective Citizens.

II.2.3.1. As the person responsible to welcome new citizens into the Familia and guiding them in Nova Roma, the Pater/Materfamilias has the duty to help and support the prospective citizen in his/her choice of name, following the laws and edicta that guide such selection, before the familial approval reaches the censorial office.

II.2.3.2. Should it come to the attention of the Censores that a Pater/Materfamilias repeatedly approves prospective citizens with incorrect names (as defined in Edictum Censoris Quintiliani de Nominibus), a censorial investigation may be launched as to why that is. If no satisfactory explanation is provided, the Censores may issue a public reprimand against the said Pater/Materfamilias for non adherence to Nova Roman practice as defined by the laws, edicta and decreta of Nova Roma.

II.2.4. Censorial issues related to the Gens in Nova Roma.

II.2.4.1 The Gens in Nova Roma

II.2.4.1.1. A Gens in Nova Roma is composed of many different Familiae that share a common nomen.

II.2.4.1.2. Although members of a particular Gens may wish to organise themselves as they see fit, for the purpose of this Edictum and in accordance with Lex Labiena de Gentibus the Censores do not recognise the authority of a head of a Gens as far as approving citizens is concerned.

II.2.4.1.3. Building on the above point, closed Gentes are now abolished as prospective citizens are in theory free to join any Gens they wish as opposed to officially recognised Familiae that are allowed to present possible restrictive entry conditions.

II.2.4.2 Approval authority to acceptance in a Gens

II.2.4.2.1. Any prospective citizen may choose the Gens of his choice providing he/she doesn't seek to belong to an already existing Domus. In the latter case approval authority falls within the rights and duties of a Pater/Materfamilias as stated in II.2.2.

II.2.4.2.2. The Censores will hold the ultimate authority to approve or reject prospective citizens seeking admission in a Gens but not in a recognised Familia.

III. This Edictum becomes effective immediately.

Given the 18th November, in the year of the Consulship of Gnaeus Salix Astur and Gnaeus Equitius Marinus, 2757 AUC.

TABVLARIVM