<human>:  Can you tell me about the different characteristics of Roman law?
<bot>: Roman law was based on a hierarchy that held the emperor at the top, followed by other government officials, magistrates and then the plebeian citizens. It was highly structured and consistent in order to create a sense of order and stability in the region. Roman law was also heavily based on precedent which meant that the same decisions would be applied to similar cases. This meant that Roman law was very reliable and could be counted on to be fairly treated in most circumstances. Furthermore, Roman law was both transformative and codified, meaning that laws could be amended as needed based on public opinion and could be argued in court and changed if necessary.