ABSTRACT
THE real basis of the Principate was the Emperor’s military power. The legal basis, however, was his special commission from the Senate and People. But the People’s ratification of the Senate’s choice was a mere formality; hence one can say that, in legal theory, the Senate actually appointed the Emperor. Thus the Senate ostensibly had very great power. The official version was that it was fulfilling its “ancient functions.” It administered numerous provinces, and theoretically Italy as well, since it controlled the consuls, who still possessed the nominal authority over Italy; and it could claim to exercise supervision over the treasury, the grain and water supply of Rome and the highways.
