Lex Calpurnia

The lex Calpurnia (also lex Calpurnia de repetundis) was a law sponsored in 149 BC by tribune Lucius Calpurnius Piso. According to this law, a permanent court, presided by a praetor, was to be established to prosecute extortion committed by magistrates and governors. Provincial governors tried to compensate for their preceding service in Rome, which was unpaid, by levying extremely high taxes and extorting the populace. The penalties were probably only pecuniary as a compensation and did not include exile.

According to Cicero, the lex Calpurnia established the first quaestio perpetua, a permanent court called into session every year. Newer laws continued to make penalties heavier. Another law on this subject were lex Junia (probably 126 BC), lex Acilia repetundarum (123 BC), lex Servilia Glaucia (100 BC), lex Cornelia de maiestate (81 BC) and lex Iulia de repetundis (59 BC).