Knights insisted on more than a half share. The lex Aurelia
made each jury consist of three equal sections or panels (decuriae),
senators, equites, and tribuni aerarii. These last seem to have
been a class of lesser capitalists, and the name was probably an
old survival. At any rate the senators could no longer shield
the criminals of their own Order. But bribery and party-feeling
remained the canker of the public courts. The political effect
of the change was great. Following the revival of the tribunate,
it recorded the fall of the Sullan constitution. The Marian or
'popular' party had already regained the upper hand. This did
not mean that Rome was on the way to be ruled by a Demos of
the Greek model. Neither Assembly nor Senate could really
decide anything of vital importance without the leave of the
army-leaders who from time to time held the power of the sword.
This was henceforth the main fact of Roman politics, to which
many good citizens strove to shut their eyes.

-356-