Authority and Sources

 

Authority

Authority can be defined as the legal right to make or enforce law or
policy which a citizen must obey.

SOURCES OF AUTHORITY

1. Legal Authority: The exercise of legal authority is derived from a
body of rules, regulations, laws, constitutions and decree governing a
state. For example, people obey policemen because they have the
backing of the law.

2. Traditional Authority: the right to rule is derived from age long
customs and tradition of the people. Obedience is based on respect for
tradition by the people.
3. Charismatic Authority: This is the right to rule given to someone
because of the personality traits of a leader seen in the person and
this makes people obey him. Example, Adolf Hitler of Germany.