Power and authority

power & authoritypower & authority

What is Power?What is Power?

The ability to control and/or influence The ability to control and/or influence people and resourcespeople and resources

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power

Social powerSocial power use of power to influence people who use of power to influence people who

have control over who becomes, or have control over who becomes, or remains, a decision makerremains, a decision maker

Linked to political power (often trying to Linked to political power (often trying to gain some adv for themselves)gain some adv for themselves)

Linked to cultural power (have social Linked to cultural power (have social power bc are cultural icons) power bc are cultural icons)

E.g. charismatic politicians, E.g. charismatic politicians, sportspeople, entertainers, academics.sportspeople, entertainers, academics.


Cultural powerCultural power Use such power to gain an Use such power to gain an

advantage – economic or legal – for advantage – economic or legal – for the groupthe group

E.g. used by religious bodies, E.g. used by religious bodies, ethnic minority groups, lobby ethnic minority groups, lobby groups that have as their basis sex groups that have as their basis sex or sexuality.or sexuality.


Economic powerEconomic power Held by a person or entity that has the Held by a person or entity that has the

money, means of production or capital money, means of production or capital to influence law and decision-makersto influence law and decision-makers

Low level (eg ‘breadwinner’ of family) or Low level (eg ‘breadwinner’ of family) or at high levels (majority shareholder in at high levels (majority shareholder in company)company)

Use such power to gain political or legal Use such power to gain political or legal


Political powerPolitical power Held by the person or group that is able Held by the person or group that is able

to control the running and policy to control the running and policy development of a decision-making or development of a decision-making or controlling body. controlling body.

Such power is used by favouring a Such power is used by favouring a person/orgsn in a decisions-making person/orgsn in a decisions-making process process

E.g union leaders, school prefects, E.g union leaders, school prefects, committee chairpersons, politicianscommittee chairpersons, politicians

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power Legal powerLegal power

Where the person/group has the ability Where the person/group has the ability and authority to create sanctions or and authority to create sanctions or inhibit the rights of others – ie where a inhibit the rights of others – ie where a group or person can enforce its rights or group or person can enforce its rights or create or apply the law.create or apply the law.

Other groups without genuine law Other groups without genuine law making power but with pol and eco making power but with pol and eco power – e.g. power of media and power – e.g. power of media and financial institutions to alter the lawfinancial institutions to alter the law

E.g. parliament and courtsE.g. parliament and courts

What is Authority?What is Authority?

The legitimate or acceptable use of The legitimate or acceptable use of powerpower

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority

Customary authorityCustomary authority Authority to wield power as a result of Authority to wield power as a result of

history or traditionhistory or tradition Historically, men over women, non-Historically, men over women, non-

indigenous over indigenousindigenous over indigenous Often recognised at common law Often recognised at common law E.g. by parents over children, employers E.g. by parents over children, employers

over employees, the state over the over employees, the state over the individual (eg police, gvt officers, defence individual (eg police, gvt officers, defence etc)etc)


Statutory authorityStatutory authority Held by persons and orgnsn that are Held by persons and orgnsn that are

provided with power by plt, eg customs provided with power by plt, eg customs agencies and tax officeagencies and tax office


Common law authorityCommon law authority Authority provided to persons and Authority provided to persons and

groups by the courtsgroups by the courts Eg employers once had common law Eg employers once had common law

authority to completely control the lives authority to completely control the lives of employees; the position of men in of employees; the position of men in society was reinforced by ability to ‘own’ society was reinforced by ability to ‘own’ a wife at common lawa wife at common law

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority Delegated authorityDelegated authority

Authority given to subordinate, or Authority given to subordinate, or lesser, people or orgnsns to make lesser, people or orgnsns to make decisions or principles on their own decisions or principles on their own behalf.behalf.

Used to increase administrative Used to increase administrative efficiency of an orgsn.efficiency of an orgsn.

Eg junior staff in business orgsns to Eg junior staff in business orgsns to manage a budget without having to manage a budget without having to bother managing director. Local council bother managing director. Local council given delegated authority to make lawgiven delegated authority to make law

power or authority or both?power or authority or both?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLvSnr6s50ZLvSnr6s50

Jailed for jaywalkingJailed for jaywalking A FATHER of three A FATHER of three wept as he revealed how crossing the road ahead of wept as he revealed how crossing the road ahead of an APEC motorcade led to his violent arrest in front an APEC motorcade led to his violent arrest in front

of his young son and a traumatic 22 hours in jail.of his young son and a traumatic 22 hours in jail. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHiCoASpRwEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHiCoASpRwE

Power and authority

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