HKB
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Often appears with: popular ratification · political legitimacy and consent · forms of government · consular authority · constitutions and founding law · checks among institutions
Usually: argument (1)
“Nay, even when these external alarms are past, and the people are enjoying their good fortune and the fruits of their victories, and, as usually happens, growing corrupted by flattery and idleness, show a tendency to violence and arrogance,—it is in these circumstances, more than ever, that the constitution is seen to possess within itself the power of correcting abuses.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · insight
Polybius argues that Rome’s consuls, people, and senate depend on one another: consuls need senate supplies and authority, triumphs require senatorial money, while people control treaty ratification and consular accountability.
[Sidenote: and Consul.] +17.+ In like manner the people on its part is far from being independent of the Senate, and is bound to take its wishes into account both collectively and individually. For contracts, too numerous to count, are given out by the censors in all parts of Italy for the repairs or construction of public buildings; there is also the collection of revenue from many rivers, harbours, gardens, mines,…