authority

Also known as authority figure

thumb|The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial authority in the country Authority is commonly understood as the legitimate power of a person or group over other people.

AI overview

Authority is the legitimate power that a person or group has to make decisions and direct others. It matters because it provides the structure that allows societies to function through recognized leadership, whether in government institutions like courts or in other organizations.

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Commons category: Authority

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~12 min read

Article

9 sections

Contents

History
Political philosophy
Sociology
Children and authority attributes
United States
See also
References
Further reading
External links

thumb|The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial authority in the country Authority is commonly understood as the legitimate power of a person or group over other people. In a civil state, authority may be practiced by legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, each of which has authority and is an authority. The term "authority" has multiple nuances and distinctions within various academic fields ranging from sociology to political science.

The term authority identifies the political legitimacy, which grants and justifies rulers' right to exercise the power of government; and the term power identifies the ability to accomplish an authorized goal, either by compliance or by obedience; hence, authority is the power to make decisions and the legitimacy to make such legal decisions and order their execution.