This phrase helps to understand the often-difficult political system of Republican Rome.
This phrase helps to understand the often-difficult political system of Republican Rome. Though the consuls were technically in supreme command, they had a one-year term and were responsible to the Senate, which felt itself to be a popularly based body.  It was a mantra chanted in battle by the troops of Julius Caesar and came to be a creed as well as a war cry.  Taken literally, it is the authority through which all Roman government was implemented.  FTP, give the phrase represented on the legions' battle flags by the abbreviation SPQR.
This phrase helps to understand the often-difficult political system of Republican Rome.
the Senate and People of Rome or equivalents ; also accept Senatus Populusque Romanus, or SPQR before it is read.