元老院(Senate)
古罗马时代的管理和顾问议会，是罗马政府机构中持续时间最长的单位。在君主制时期，元老院是一个顾问议会，权力并不明确。在共和国时期，元老院为执政官提供谘询，其权力应该仅在执政官之下。元老院的议员由执政官指派，但由於他们是终身制，因此到了共和国後期，元老院已独立於执政官，享有广泛的权力。在西元前312年左右，监察官从执政官手中接过任命议员的权力。西元前81年，苏拉使选举自动化，例行公事地承认了之前所有的财务官。元老院成为主要的管理机构，控制着共和国的财政。後来凯撒把元老院议员的人数增加到900名。奥古斯都又把人数减少为300名，并削弱元老院的权力，赋予其新的司法和立法功能。其人数後来上升到2,000人；其中很多为地方人士，最重要的元老院议员为富裕的大地主。元老院的权力不断减弱，直至6世纪该机构最终消亡。
English version：
Senate
In ancient Rome, the governing and advisory council that was the most permanent element in the Roman constitution. Under the monarchy, it served as an advisory council, with undefined powers. During the republic, it advised the consuls and supposedly stood second to them in power. Senators were appointed by the consuls, but since they served for life, by the late republic the Senate became independent of the consuls, with extensive powers. About 312 BC the selection of senators was transferred from the consuls to the censors. In 81 BC Sulla made selection automatic, routinely admitting all former quaestors. It became the chief governing body, and controlled the republic's finances. Julius Caesar increased the number of senators to 900. Augustus dropped the number to 300 and reduced the Senate's power, while giving it new judicial and legislative functions. The number later increased to about 2,000; many were provincials, the most important being the great landowners. The Senate's power faded until it disappeared in the 6th century AD.