Quae cīvitātēs commodius suam rem pūblicam administrāre exīstimantur habent lēgibus sānctum, sī quis quid dē rē pūblicā ā fīnitimīs rūmōre aut fāmā accēperit, utī ad magistrātum dēferat nēve cum quō aliō commūnicet: quod saepe hominēs temerāriōs atque imperītōs falsīs rūmōribus terrērī et ad facinus impellī et dē summīs rēbus cōnsilium capere cōgnitum est. Magistrātūs quae vīsa sunt occultant, quaeque esse ex ūsū iūdicāvērunt multitūdinī prōdunt. Dē rē pūblicā nisi per concilium loquī nōn concēditur.
notes
Unauthorized publication of political news forbidden.
legibus sanctum: 'established by law', agreeing with the clause si…communicet (obj. of habent) (Allen & Judson).
quo: indef., 'any one' (nequis) (Allen & Judson) (A&G 310).
neve: 'and that not', the regular connective for a negative purpose clause (Allen & Greenough) (A&G 531).
neve…communicet: 'and not impart it to any one else'. Since neve contains the particle ne, quo (from quis) is the proper indefinite (Hodges) (A&G 310.a).
quae visa sunt: what they think fit to conceal (understand occultanda) (Allen & Greenough)
ex usu: 'of advantage' (Hodges) (A&G 221.11.c).
vocabulary
com-mŏdus, a, um: suitable, due, proper
admĭnistro, -āre: execute, perform, carry out, govern, manage
fīnĭtĭmus, -a, -um: bordering upon, adjoining, neighboring
rūmor, -ōris m.: report, rumor
măgistrātus, ūs m.: magister, civil office
nēve adv.: and not, nor, lest
commūnĭco, -āre: divide something with one, impart, share, communicate
tĕmĕrārĭus, -a, -um: reckless
impĕrītus, -a, -um: inexperienced
impello, -ĕre, -pŭli, -pulsum: incite, urge on, influence
occulto, -āre: conceal
concĭlĭum, ii, n.: gathering, assembly
con-cēdo, -ere, -cessi, -cessum: grant, concede, allow, resign, yield