Final answer:
In times of crisis in Rome, a dictator was appointed by the Centuriate Assembly to have absolute power, which was used to address the emergency and then relinquished.
Step-by-step explanation:
During times of crisis in Rome, the Centuriate Assembly had the power to appoint a dictator, an individual with absolute authority and full imperium to address the emergency. This role was temporary and was meant to ensure the safety and stability of Rome. The dictator was to use this extraordinary power to resolve the crisis and then relinquish his position, returning the state to normalcy. Notably, for several centuries, appointees mostly respected the temporal limitation of their power, maintaining the integrity of the Roman political system.