Authority

 The word authority derives from the Latin word

auctoritas meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence
or commands which originate from an auctor indicating
that authority originates from a master, leader or author.
 Essentially authority is imposed by superiors upon
inferiors either by force of arms (structural authority) or
by force of argument (sapiential authority).
 Usually authority has components of both compulsion
and persuasion.
 Legitimate Authority
 In government, authority is often used
interchangeably with the term "power”.
 However, their meanings differ: while "power"
is defined as "the ability to influence somebody
to do something that (s)he could not have
done", "authority" refers to a claim of
legitimacy, the justification and right to
exercise that power.
 Types Of Authority:-
 Parental authority.

 Informal authority of leadership.

 Organizational and bureaucratic authorities.

 Political authority.
 Weber on authority
 Max Weber, in his sociological work, identified and
distinguished three types of legitimate Authority:
 The first type discussed by Weber is Rational-legal
authority. It is that form of authority which depends for its
legitimacy on formal rules and established laws of the
state, which are usually written down and are often very
complex.
 The second type of authority is Traditional authority,
which derives from long-established customs, habits and
social structures. When power passes from one generation
to another, then it is known as traditional authority. ruling
families of Mewar, in Rajasthan (India) are some examples
of traditional authority.
 Weber….
 The third form of authority is Charismatic
authority. Here, the charisma of the individual or the
leader plays an important role. Charismatic authority
is that authority which is derived from "the gift of
grace" or when the leader claims that his authority is
derived from a "higher power" (e.g. God or natural
law or rights) or "inspiration”. This authority is
superior to both the validity of traditional and
rational-legal authority. Examples in this regard can
be NT Rama Rao, a matinee idol, who went on to
become one of the most powerful Chief Ministers of
Andhra Pradesh