Governor

• The Roman Governor was called either a Propraetor or a Proconsul.
• Being a Governor was not part of the career ladder known as the Cursus Honorum.

Power of the Governor under the Roman Republic

• Election
  • Praetors and Consuls were required to act as Governor of a province after finishing their Term of Office.

• Imperium
  • They were called either Propraetor or Proconsul and had almost unlimited power within that Province.
  • They were escorted by 12 Lictors and held Imperium.
  • Their Powers were only limited by the Veto of a Consul or Praetor, or an Act passed by the Senate or Concilium Plebis (People’s Assembly).
  • The Tribune of the Plebs could cast a Veto only if the Governor came within 1 mile (1.5km) of the City of Rome, but otherwise had no authority over a Provincial Governor.

• Right to Veto:
  • The Governor could Veto every other Magistrate except, a Consul, Praetor or a Dictator or Magister Equitum.

Power of the Governor under the Roman Empire

• Augustus limited the independence of the Governors.
• Imperium Proconsulare Maius
  • The Emperor was awarded ‘Imperium Proconsulare Maius’ meaning ‘Power over all the Proconsuls’.
  • This legally authorised him to override the Provincial Governors’ authority.
  • By retaining the Power of Imperium over all the Propraetorial and Proconsular Governors in the Provinces, the Emperor could override any local decision, making him the Supreme Ruler.