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Simple English definitions for legal terms
quaestio
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A quick definition of quaestio:
Quaestio is a Latin word that means "to inquire." In Roman law, it referred to a special commission of the Senate that was appointed to hear criminal cases involving the public interest. This commission had the power to try all cases of a given class arising within a specified period. Quaestio could also refer to an interrogation by inflicting torture or the torture itself. The plural form of quaestio is quaestiones.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Quaestio is a Latin term that means "to inquire." In Roman law, it has several meanings:
- A special commission of the Senate appointed to hear criminal cases involving the public interest, sometimes with the power to try all cases of a given class arising within a specified period. This is also known as quaestio extraordinaire.
- Quaestio perpetua, which means a permanent commission established to investigate and prosecute certain crimes.
- An interrogation by inflicting torture.
- The torture so inflicted.
For example, a quaestio extraordinaire could be appointed to investigate a case of corruption involving a high-ranking government official. The commission would have the power to try all cases of corruption within a specified period.
Another example is the use of quaestio perpetua to investigate and prosecute cases of treason or conspiracy against the state.
Unfortunately, quaestio also refers to the use of torture during interrogations. This was a common practice in ancient Rome, and it was used to extract confessions from suspects. The torture inflicted during a quaestio was often brutal and inhumane.
Overall, quaestio is a term that is closely associated with the legal system of ancient Rome and the use of torture during interrogations. While it may have had some practical applications in the past, it is now widely regarded as a barbaric and outdated practice.