Forum - In Ancient Rome, all political discussion and legal proceedings took place out in the open where anyone could participate. Some senators would ensure their success by filling the forum with their supporters when their measures came up for a vote. If the other senators tried to block the vote or veto the measure, the crowd, or "mob", would "help" the opposing senator; sometimes fatally. Eventually the mob became something like a political party, and appeasing the mob a necessary goal for the leadership. This goes some way towards understanding the motivation behind all of the extensive Roman public works.