Leges Liviae

Leges Liviae Various enactments carried by M. Livius Drusus the younger, when tribunus plebis B.C. 91, for establishing colonies in Italy and Sicily (Appian, App. BC 1.35), distributing corn among the poorer citizens at a low rate (Liv. Epit. 71), and admitting the foederatae civitates to the Roman citizenship (ib. Appian, loc. cit.). He was also the author of a lex judiciaria, dividing the judicia equally between the senate and the Equites (Vell. 2.13; Liv. Epit. 70; Cic. pro Cluentio, 56, 153), and instituting a penal procedure against judges who allowed themselves to be bribed (Cic. loc. cit.; Appian, App. BC 1.35); and he is said by Pliny (Plin. Nat. 33.46) to have proposed a measure for adulterating silver by mixing with it an eighth part of brass. Drusus was assassinated, and the senate declared his laws not binding, either because they had been carried contra auspicia (Ascon. in Cornet. p. 68), or because they were in violation of the Lex Caecilia Didia (Cic. pro Domo, 16, 41). Cf. Cic. de Leg. 2.6, 12; Florus, 3.17; Plut. C. Gracchus, 9 if.