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THE SENATE HOUSE, ROME
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“Do not jump into conclusions, my dear friends” Marcus Brutus said again, once all Senators have declare their opposition or support. “I heartily comment the skepticism shown from Sextus Agrippa Rufus here for it is indeed well said and honourably; however, it seems that Sextus Agrippa, good fellow as he is, forgot to read through my proposed draft. For I state beyond any doubt that any sitting magistrate or holder of Imperium can be brought to justice outright if, IF he is charged with treason. Of course, that means not that we will be able to send out and then recall all of our magistrates at will as Rufus displays it. We will not be able to do that. If it comforts your heart, dear Sextus Agrippa, let us amend the draft to include the following; that a sitting magistrate or other holder of Imperium can only be recalled at the discretion of the Praetor Urbanus after the provision of all evidence of such a treasonous corruption. There, see? The chaos is restored, the Republic is saved!” Marcus Brutus end with a humorous spirit.

“Now, in response to Lucius Livius Murena’s attack. It may look a compelling argument, what you say Lucius Livius, that I am trying to destroy a consular for revenge but between us two, you are the one who has vetoed a legislation of your opponent, not I. You have in a fact shown vengeance, not I. So, in what exact spirit do you talk of vengeance? Admiration?” Marcus Brutus continued as humorously as he had finished his response to Sextus Agrippa’s rebuke. “Now, now, Lucius Livius! It is correct what you say; that I have something in mind when I proposed this Senatus Consultum – all men have something in their minds when they open their mouths even if that something is to eat their beans! My thought was stepping though from pure grounds rather than vengeance, as you protest; my thought was to install severe consequences on all those who accept a bribery.”

“But how is it, I ask myself, that all these fine gentlemen manage to miss the actual purpose of the bill? It is not some revolutionary piece, quite conservative I would argue! It is not to strip all magistrates of legal immunity but to punish those who, taking advantage of the legal immunity their office provides, have taken bribes in order to act AGAINST the wills of the Senate and People of Rome! And further, I would argue, what good is to the Republic and People to keep in office such men as those men who have taken money from others –Romans or even more disgustingly foreigners!- to take certain duties aboard once in office? What good are to the Republic and People of Rome some men who have no honour, no dignity and no morality as to do someone’s bidding as if they were slaves or freedmen up for payment? Mercenaries? What good are they, Senators? Can we tolerate such behaviour from our Consulars? Our Praetorials? Our Quaestorials, even? I think not; I think not! Who in this Senate House, I ask, is so vicious, so reprobate, so corrupt as to debate whether or not we should pass this legislation? I think none I see with my eyes!”

“However, if it is tradition you worry about let us amend the bill once more to include the following; that any magistrate who is charged with the offense of either accepting or giving bribery will not be eligible to run or be prorogued in office until such charges are cleared. Now, Senators, I ask again. Who in this Senate House is as vile, as corrupt and as reprobate to deny the Senate and People of Rome a legislation that battles corruption in its more common appearance? If any speak, for you this Senatus Consultum offends!”
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AMENDMENTS TO SC JUNIUM:

I. That in the case of treasonous bribery, a sitting magistrate or other holder of Imperium can be recalled to Rome to stand for trial only after the discretion of the Praetor Urbanus and only after sufficient evidence has been provided to him by the prosecuting citizen.

II. That in the case of a sitting magistrate or other holder of Imperium being charged with the offense of giving or accepting a bribe, he will not be eligible to stand for office in the elections or able to be prorogued in office until the charges are cleared.