The plebeians of imperial Rome made up the working class. They had little political influence. They did not have the individual power that the equestrians, senators, or the patricians had. However, they still made up ninety percent of the population, and because of that, have a huge amount of power as a collective. Without the plebeians, Rome wouldn't have any production, and would face problems with gaining power, and influence throughout Europe. Because the empire was maintaining the appearance of a republic, ignoring the plebeians would lead to frightening mobs, and violent rebellions.
Daily Life
The Plebeians were the lower middle class of the Roman empire. They served as either farmers, bakers, builders, or craftsmen. Although they could own land, and rise up through the social ladder, most never did as it was incredibly difficult to do so as a plebeian. Plebeians needed all the money they could in order to feed their family, and keep up with the costs of living. Plebeians were incredibly separate from the nobility. Of all the classes, they are the most discriminated. Plebs and the nobility were not allowed to marry, and must practice different religious rites than the nobility. Daily life as a plebeian was a daily struggle. They had very little power to do what they wanted and nearly belonged to the emperor. In order to prevent rebellions that could arise from this, Augustus gave free food and free entertainment to the plebs, a system Juvenal called "breads and circuses". In addition to this, many plebeians were able to leave the city and keep a farm in the country. This system kept plebeians busy in their life and kept them happy, as well as improving living circumstances. Plebs took advantage of their free entertainment and used it daily.
Influence
Plebeians had very little individual power. Individually, they belonged to the emperor as the emperor could control what they can or can't do. During the republic, plebeians could control the senate into doing what they wanted, which is why the Roman motto was "The Senate and the People of Rome". However, during the time of the empire, the plebs were irrelevant. All the power belonged to the emperor. However, as a collective, the plebs could influence change within the empire, and could influence their leaders to reform laws around them. As powerless as they were, the plebeians could gain enough money to become an equestrian, which would give them more influence within the government, but it was incredibly difficult for plebeians to gain 400,000 sesterces. However, they could still gain money, and services from patricians through the patronage system, in which the plebs would have to give something back as well, such as a vote in the senate. This made plebs an influential force in the power of nobility in the early empire. While Augustus created the guise that the people of Rome had influence, the emperor Tiberius removed the People's Assembly, which marked the end of the plebeians as a group that could change the direction of politics.