Ius Scriptum

Ius scriptum is Latin for "written law". Ius scriptum was the body of statute laws made by the legislature. The laws were known as leges ("laws") and plebiscita ("plebiscites" which came from the Plebeian Council). Roman lawyers would also include in the ius scriptum:

• The edicts of magistrates (magistratuum edicta),
• The advice of the Senate (Senatus consulta),
• The responses and thoughts of jurists (responsa prudentium), and
• The proclamations and beliefs of the emperor (principum placita).

Ius scriptum was contrasted with ius non scriptum, the body of common laws that arose from customary practice and had become binding over time.