Sean Andrews wrote: > If all of them can so easily overlook > the textbook definition of the term dictator (i.e. he's been elected, > so...) simply because he has some bluster then there is obviously > something else going on.
Maybe the mainstream media are channeling the ancient Romans, where dictators were elected (by patricians). But I doubt it. According to the WIKIPEDIA: >> In the Roman Republic, the dictator (“one who dictates”), was an >> extraordinary magistrate (magistratus extraordinarius) with the absolute >> authority to perform tasks beyond the authority of the ordinary magistrate >> (magistratus ordinarius). The office of dictator was a legal innovation >> originally named Magister Populi (Master of the People), i.e. Master of the >> Citizen Army. The Roman Senate passed a senatus consultum authorizing the consuls to nominate a dictator — the sole exception to the Roman legal principles of collegiality (multiple tenants in the same office) and responsibility (legal liability for official actions) — only one man was appointed, and, as the highest magistrate, he was not legally liable for official actions; 24 lictors attended him. Only a single dictator was allowed, because of the imperium magnus, the great, extraordinary power with which he could over-rule, or depose from office, or put to death other curule magistrates, also possessed of imperium. The dictator was appointed to execute and effect Roman State business denominated rei gerundae causa (for the matter to be done), seditionis sedandae causa (for the putting down of rebellion), as in the case of Sulla, who, as dictator legibus faciendis et rei publicae constituendae causa (Dictator for the making of laws and for the settling of the constitution), established the precedents that ended the Roman Republic.<< -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
