Legal Definitions - lex curiata

Definition: Lex curiata refers to laws that were passed in the comitia curiata, an assembly of patricians in ancient Rome. These laws were mainly concerned with authorizing private acts of citizens, such as declaring wills and adoptions. The comitia curiata did not engage in much legislative activity.

Example: An example of a law passed in the comitia curiata is the Lex Vatinia, which authorized Julius Caesar to lead a military campaign against the Parthian Empire.

Explanation: The Lex Vatinia was passed in the comitia curiata in 59 BC. It granted Caesar the power to lead a military campaign against the Parthian Empire, which he did the following year. This law illustrates the definition of lex curiata because it was a private act of a citizen (Caesar) that required authorization from the comitia curiata.