Power & AuthorityPower & Authority

What is Power?What is Power?

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

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power

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

control over who becomes, or remains, a control over who becomes, or remains, a decision makerdecision maker

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

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

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

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power

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

economic or legal – for the groupeconomic or legal – for the group E.g. used by religious bodies, ethnic E.g. used by religious bodies, ethnic

minority groups, lobby groups that have minority groups, lobby groups that have as their basis sex or sexuality.as their basis sex or sexuality.

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power

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

means of production or capital to influence means of production or capital to influence law and decision-makerslaw and decision-makers

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

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

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power

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

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

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

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

Concepts of PowerConcepts of Power Legal powerLegal power

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

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

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

What is Authority?What is Authority?

The legitimate or acceptable use of powerThe legitimate or acceptable use of power

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority

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

or traditionor tradition Historically, men over women, non-indigenous Historically, men over women, non-indigenous

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

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

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority

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

with power by plt, eg customs agencies and with power by plt, eg customs agencies and tax officetax office

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority

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

the courtsthe courts Eg employers once had common law authority Eg employers once had common law authority

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

Concepts of AuthorityConcepts of Authority Delegated authorityDelegated authority

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

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

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