A Level Classical Civilisation - Politics of the Late Republic: Cicero and the Res Publica Key Terms

concordia ordinum

literally 'the agreement of the orders': a political ideal held by Cicero in which the original structures of the Republican constitution were encouraged to flourish and continue, with the aristocracy and equites united in the common good of governing the Roman state

cum dignitate otium

literally 'leisure with prestige': used in a wider sense by Cicero to refer to an absolute social, religious, legal and political status quo

senatus consultum ultimum (SCU)

abbreviated form of senatus consultum de re publica defendenda, a decree of the senate passed in times of crisis allowing the suspension of the normal restrictions placed on consuls to do whatever was necessary to protect the state

The Philippics

a term used to refer to Cicero's final series of vitriolic speeches attacking Mark Antony from 44 to 43BC, named after the Athenian Demosthenes' Philippic delivered against Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century. Cicero wrote 14 Philippic speeches in all.