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.