Government

Abstract In On the commonwealth Cicero explores three main ideas, discussed here in turn. First introduced is the concept of a res publica itself, held together as an association of citizens by the justice inherent in a fairly based legal order. Then Cicero stresses the consilium (deliberation) needed to govern it, and above all secure and maintain its stability, with the recipe a ‘mixed’ system of government such as Republican Rome had historically evolved. Finally, he turns to the leadership required to supply that consilium and to carry it through in action, whether in the ordinary functioning of the res publica or in moments of crisis when its integrity is threatened and a ‘director (rector) of the commonwealth and initiator of public consilium’ is needed. On laws presents and defends a more detailed account of the roles particularly of senate and people, and of their interaction, within the mixed constitution.