Leges Genuciae (also Lex Genucia or Lex Genucia de feneratione) were laws passed in 342 BC by Tribune of the Plebs Lucius Genucius.

These laws covered several topics: they banned lending that carried interest, which soon was not enforced; they forbade holding two magistracies at the same time or within the next 10 years (until 332 BC); and lastly, they required at least one consul to be a plebeian.[1][2][3]

The first time both consuls were plebeian was in 172 BC.[4][5] By then, that provision was the only one that continued to be enforced.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, vii.42
  2. ^ Tim Cornell, The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. VII, part 2, The Rise of Rome to 220 B.C., Cambridge University Press, 1989, p. 337. Cornell shows that Livy confused the content of the Lex Licinia Sextia of 366 with the Lex Genucia of 342.
  3. ^ T. Corey Brennan, The Praetorship in the Roman Republic, Oxford University Press, 2000., pp. 65-67. Brennan demonstrates that the ten year rule was only temporary at this time.
  4. ^ Matthew Dillon, Lynda Garland, Ancient Rome: From the early Republic to the assassination of Julius Caesar (Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World), Routledge, 2013, p. 33. ISBN 978-1-136-76143-0.
  5. ^ Tim Cornell, The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c.1000–264 BC), London & New York, Routledge, p. 338. ISBN 978-1-136-75495-1.
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