The senate
Although as a constitutional body the senate at Rome had lost all its authority since the beginning of the third century, it continued to exist during the Dominate and, after the founding of Constantinople, a similar senate was established there in the middle of the fourth century.
The two senates functioned mainly as municipal councils, although the actual administration of Rome and Constantinople was in the hands of the urban prefects and their subordinates. Occasionally the senate was called upon to give its advice to the emperor on current affairs or to carry out certain ceremonial tasks (such as the inauguration of a new emperor). Moreover, it made recommendations for the praetorship and the quaestorship, discussed with imperial officials matters of taxation concerning the senatorial class and sometimes participated in drafting imperial legislation. However, it no longer operated as a regular court of justice having jurisdiction over its own members; charges brought against senators were now tried before the urban prefect or a provincial governor.[1103] The senate of Constantinople was dominated by the emperor's favourites, imperial officials and even representatives of the city trades, whilst in that of Rome it was the representatives of the old senatorial families and landed proprietors who set the tone. Although the senate no longer possessed political power, the position of senator entailed great prestige and its holders enjoyed many privileges, including exemption from certain taxes and financial obligations in the municipalities where their estates were situated. Moreover, senators enjoyed certain legal privileges and, as a rule, demeaning forms of punishment or torture were not employed against them. In return for these privileges they had to pay a landed property tax (collatio glebalis), to make special contributions to the state (aurum oblaticium) and to bear the costs of public games and festivals held in Rome and Constantinople.[1104]
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