Executive magistrates of the Roman Empire |This article is part
of the series: Politics and government of |Titles and honours|
|Precedent and law| The executive magistrates of the Roman
Empire were elected individuals of the ancient Roman Empire.
During the transition from monarchy to republic, the
constitutional balance of power shifted from the executive (the
Roman King) to the Roman Senate. During the transition from
republic to empire, the constitutional balance of power shifted
back to the executive (the Roman Emperor). Theoretically, the
senate elected each new emperor, although in practice, it was
the army which made the choice. The powers of an emperor, (his
imperium) existed, in theory at least, by virtue of his legal
standing. The two most significant components to an emperor's
imperium were the "tribunician powers" (potestas tribunicia) and
the "proconsular powers" (imperium proconsulare). In theory at
least, the tribunician powers (which were similar to those of
the Plebeian Tribunes under the old