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Functionally, the Roman Empire (not the Roman Republic) was a combination Oligarchy/Dictatorship. The Emporer governed in a manner with near-dictatorial power; however, the Roman Senate continued to exert some power, primarily that of the purse. That is, the Senate generally controlled taxation levels (and other means to raise funds), which it used as a negotation lever with the otherwise all-powerful Emporer.

By the time of the Roman Empire, the Senate had ceased to be anything approaching a democratic body. Instead, it was very oligarchical in nature - only wealthy, powerful men could be appointed, and membership was primarily determined by an individual's power base (usually, inside Rome itself). Thus, there were no Senate elections anymore, and Senators held their office as long as they could retain enough support in the populace - this support was generally perceived as either through popular opinion, or the ability to gain alliances with powerful people.

The Emporer was nominally hereditary and perpetual, but backroom power politics resulted in the appointment (and deposing) of Emporers both inside and outside the "royal" family tree. Senators, on the other hand, were generally demogagues (surviving on being masters of currying general public favor) or skilled political operators (those able to gain support of the powerful and wealthy families and groups which made up the upper levels of Roman society).

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