This text investigates the structural evolution of Roman legal institutions and their constitutional framework from the early Republic through the late Empire. Wolfgang Kunkel, a distinguished scholar of Roman law, utilizes primary source analysis and historical legal records to trace the development of Roman jurisprudence. The book provides a systematic examination of how political shifts influenced the creation and application of law within the Roman state. It serves as a foundational analysis of the mechanisms that governed Roman society for centuries.

Experts and legal historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of Roman constitutional development. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for students and scholars of legal history.