Chapter XVII. The Senate: A Session and a

Debate

283. Apparent Authority and Importance of the Senate 334

284. Actual Weakness of the Senate 335

285. Amount of Power Left to the Senate 336

286. Organization and Procedure of the Senate 337

287. The _Curia_ (Senate House) and Its Arrangement of Benches 338

288. The Gathering of the Senators 339

289. Opening the Session: Taking the Auspices 340

290. Presentation of Routine Business: Taking a Formal Vote 341

291. Presenting an Impeachment at a Senate Trial 342

292. The Water Clocks; Method of a Prosecutor; Applause in the Senate 344

293. Speech for the Defendant: Methods of a Professional Advocate 345

294. Concluding Speeches; Interrupting Shouts; Personal Invectives 347

295. Taking the Opinion of the Senate 348

296. An Uproar in the Senate: An “Altercation” 350

297. Taking a Vote of the Senate. A Sentence of Banishment 351