Legal Definitions - lex Gabinia

Definition: Lex Gabinia is a law in Roman law that introduced popular election by secret ballot. This means that people could vote for their leaders without anyone knowing who they voted for. Secret ballots were also used in judicial meetings.

Example: In ancient Rome, the lex Gabinia was used to elect officials such as consuls and praetors. Before this law, people had to vote in public, which made it easy for others to see who they were voting for. With the lex Gabinia, people could vote without fear of retribution or intimidation.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the lex Gabinia allowed people to vote without fear of retribution or intimidation. By using secret ballots, people could vote for the candidate they believed was best without worrying about what others might think. This law helped to ensure fair and democratic elections in ancient Rome.