from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
SENATUS CONSULTUM, civ. law. A decree or decision of the Roman senate, which
had the force of law.
2. When the Roman people had so increased that there was no place where
they could meet, it was found necessary to consult the senate instead of the
people, both on public affairs and those which related to individuals. The
opinion which was rendered on such an occasion was called senatus consultum.
Inst. 1, 2, 5; Clef des Lois Rom. h.t.; Merl. Repert. h.t. These decrees
frequently derived their titles from the names of the consuls or magistrates
who proposed them; as, senatus-consultum Claudianum, Libonianum, Velleianum,
&c. from Claudius, Libonius, Valleius. Ail. Pand. 30.