A senatus consultum (Latin: decree of the senate, plural: senatus consulta) is a text emanating from the senate in Ancient Rome.
In the case of the ancient Roman Senate under the Roman Kingdom, it was simply an opinion expressed by the senate, such as the Senatus consultum Macedonianum or the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus.
[1] Despite only being an opinion, it was considered obligatory to have one before submitting the decision to a vote and moreover a hostile consultum from the senate almost systematically provoked the new law's abandonment or modification.
[2] All proposed motions could be blocked by a veto from a tribune of the plebs or an intercessio by one of the executive magistrates.
Each motion blocked by a veto was registered in the annals as senatus auctoritas (will of the senate).