Aeneid Group
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Posted by kplhardison on Friday October 30, 2009 at 4:29 PMIn the simplest definition, Roman Mandates were instruments of Roman Law. They were either civil codes arranged between individuals or they were decrees sent from an Emperor to the governors or other leaders. The first class of mandate requires explanation whereas the second, a decree from a ruling government, is a more familiar construct for most.
A mandate of the first class was a legal contract between two people who agreed that one of the persons would perform an act or service for the other and that there would be no fee or charge paid for the performance of said act or service. In all other forms of civil contract, an agreement for provision of goods, acts or services depended upon a consideration, which is an agreed upon payment or fee for the goods, act or service. Mandates. by their definition, never had a consideration attached--it was a gratuitous (free of charge) contract.
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