Sumptuary laws are legal regulations that aim to limit expenditure on clothing and other luxurious items. These rules were prevalent in ancient Rome and medieval Europe, where the rulers wished to restrict the social mobility of lower classes. Synonyms for Sumptuary laws include regulations, restrictions, bans, decrees, edicts, guidelines, protocols, and orders. These regulations were enacted to control the behavior of citizens and often had severe penalties for violating them. Today, many countries have laws that limit spending on political campaigns or place restrictions on how public officials spend government funds. Sumptuary laws of medieval Europe have an impact on modern law and government policies, which aim to limit spending and reduce corruption.