thsi explains the entire concept of Authority

1. Authority
By
Mr. Mahesh Jaiwantrao Patil
M.A. (Political Science), M.Phil, NET, SET, & Ph.D
(Pursuing)
Assistant Professor,
Narayanrao Chavan Law College, Nanded, Maharashtra,
India.
Cell No.(+91) 09860816313

2. Introduction
 Authority is that form of power which is legalized and
legitimized . Authority is a form of power e.g. a statute
giving power to an minister. If a person has power due to a
special office , he occupies, this is known as authority.
 Example- Police Commissioner has authority to issue
order and get them obeyed by virtue of authority he
occupies.
 Power + legitimacy = Authority.
 Authority consists of two important components: power
and legitimacy.
 Authority means legitimate power which has been
approved by the people or power in accordance with the
constitution or the law of the state.
 A government officer is competent to use authority- his
authority is clearly definied.

3. Meaning
 In English, the word 'Authority1 can be used to mean
power given by the state.
 According to Michael in the Encyclopedia of social
sciences, authority is the capacity, innate or acquired
for exercising ascendancy over a group.
 Weber defined domination (Authority) on the chance
of commands being obeyed by a specific group of
people.
 Origin of the Word 'Authority' : The word
'Authority‘is derived from the Latin word
'austoritus’ meaning‘ invention‘, 'advice', 'opinion',
'influence' or 'command' in English

4.  : Authority means power given by the state in
the from of government, judges, police officers etc. The
word 'Authority’ is used in the name of an organization,
the name usually refers to the
governing body upon which such authority is vested.
 Meaning of the Word 'Authority' in Different
Spheres :
 Government : In government the term 'authority' is
often used interchangeably with the term 'power'. Here
authority refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification
and might to exercise that power.

5. Nature
 Authority is institutionalized and legal power inherent in a
particular job, function, or position that is meant to enable
its holder to successfully carry out his or her
responsibilities.
 Authority is power that is delegated formally. It includes a
right to command a situation, commit resources, give
orders and except them to be obeyed, it is always
accompanied by an equal responsibility for one's actions
or a failure to act.
 In government, the term authority is often used
interchangeably with power in political philosophy, the
jurisdiction of political authority, the location of
sovereignty, the balancing of freedom and authority. Since
the emergency of social sciences authority has become a
subject of research in a variety of empirical settings.

6. Max Weber Typology of Authority
 Max Weber (1864 -1920), German sociologist and political
economist, he is best known for his thesis of the ‘Protestant
Ethic’ and for his ideas on bureaucracy . He explained typology
of authority concept in his book the theory of social and
Economic organization 1971.
 Weber divided legitimate authority into three types.
 Traditional Authority : It is derived from long established
customs, habits and social structures. When power passes from
one generation to another generation, then it is called
traditional authority. The best example is the right of hereditary
monarchs to rule a country.
 Charismatic Authority : Here, the charisma of the
individual or the leader play the important part. It is the
authority which is derived from the gift of grace or when the
leader claims that his authority is derived from a "higher power"

7.  (e.g. God or natural law or rights) or "inspiration", and
followers accept this and are willing to follow this
hitherto or inspired authority, in the place of authority
that they have hitherto been following.
 For example, N. T. Rama Rao, a idol whose charisma
made him one of the most powerful Chief Minister of
Andhra Pradesh & Mr. Narendra Modi (Present PM of
India).
 Legal Rational Authority : it is the form of authority
which depends for its legitimacy or formal ruler and
established laws of the state, which are usually written
and often are complex. The power of the rational legal
authority is mentioned in the Constitution. Modern
societies depend on legal-rational authority and
Government officials are the best example of this form of
authority.

8. Comparison Table
Sr
No
Particular Charismatic Traditional Legal Rational
1 Type of ruler Charismatic leader Dominant
personality
Functional superiors or
bureaucratic officials
2 Position
determined by
Having dynamic
personality
Established
traditional or
routine
Legal established
authority
3 Ruled Using Extra- ordinary
qualities and
exceptional powers
Acquired or
inherited
( hereditary
qualities)
Virtue of rationally
established norms, decrees,
and other rules and
regulations
4 Legitimized Victories and
success to
community
Established
traditional or
routine
General belief in the formal
correctness of these rule
and those who enact them
are considered a
legitimized authority

9. Comparison Table
Sr
No
Particular Charismatic Traditional Legal Rational
5 Loyalty Interpersonal &
personal
allegiance and
devotion
Based on
traditional
allegiance
(commitment)
To authority/ rules
6 Cohesion
( Structure /
organization
Emotionally
unstable and
volatile
Feeling of
common
purpose
Abiding by rules
7 Leadership Rulers and
followers
(disciples)
Established
forms of social
conduct
Rules, not rulers

10.  Weber has noted that legal domination is the most advanced,
and that societies evolve from having mostly traditional and
charismatic authorities to mostly rational and legal ones,
because the instability of charismatic authority automatically
forces it to "routinize" into a more structured form of authority.
 Similarly, he notes that in a pure type of traditional rule,
sufficient resistance to a master can lead to a "traditional
revolution". Thus, he indicates towards an inevitable move
towards a rational-legal structure of authority, utilizing a
bureaucratic structure. This ties to his broader concept of
rationalization by suggesting the inevitability of a move in this
direction.
 In traditional authority, the legitimacy of the authority comes
from tradition, in charismatic authority from the personality
and leadership qualities of the individual (charisma), and in
legal (or rational-legal) authority from powers that are
bureaucratically and legally attached to certain positions.

11. Difference between power &
Authority
Sr.No Power Authority
1 Power is not always legal Authority is always legal
2 It acquires not through peaceful
means but these are elements of
force, control, coercion
It is phenomenon of peaceful times
3 Power is essence of politics Legitimacy is the basis of Authority
4 Force is the brutal manifestation
of power
Authority is the legitimate use of power.
Authority Is the institutional use of power.
5 It is political polarization of the
desire interest of the people.
Authority is rooted in the rules and
regulations of the government.