Power, Authority and The State Essay - 1131 Words

Waking up on the typical Monday morning, I feel groggy and confused. What day is today? I think it over and realize it is the dreaded Monday. Wishing it was still Sunday, I slowly get up and, like a snail, complete my morning routine. On my way to Hunter, everything is the usual–waiting for the suddenly delayed train, rushing through the massive horde of people trying to transfer trains, and finally arriving at school along with hundreds of others. I notice that the train station has set up a table lined with police officers checking passengers’ â€Å"suspicious† bags. The person in front of me gets called over by the police and she complies, by allowing the police officer to look through her bag. I keep walking as this is nothing out of the†¦show more content†¦The first type of authority is legal, or rational authority. Weber writes, â€Å"It is concerned with how a political order is regarded as legal in the eyes of the population†¦and the legit imacy is maintained by reference to a legal code† (13). Individuals or groups with legal rational authority are functional superiors or bureaucratic officials. This type of authority rules through the law, the government, and established norms. The reason their authority is accepted is that people generally believe rules and regulations are necessary in order to maintain a functioning society. Examples of legal authority figures are members of Congress, the President, the Queen of England, and average police officers. These authority figures are able to maintain their dominance because it has been accepted as a norm and necessity to follow the law. The second type of authority is traditional authority. Weber states, â€Å"this type of authority is: resting on an established belief in the sanctity of immemorial traditions and legitimacy of those exercising authority under rule† (12). Those with traditional authority inherit their position from long established traditions and customs. Examples of traditional authority figures are the Pope, doctors, and teachers. This tradition of obedience has been passed on from generation to generation and it is seen as customary to obey those in charge of your faith, health, and education. We’ve been taught by society and by our parents toShow MoreRelatedPower, Authority And Power And The Views Of The State1388 Words   |  6 Pagesthe state that were very different. The essay will look to cover their theories as well as definitions, strengths and weaknesses on democracy, authority and power and the views of JS Mill and Plato, giving their thoughts, ideas and styles. The researcher will also apply these definitions of authority and democracy to both Mill’s and Plato’s theories of the state. Heywood tells us that authority is, in the broadest sense of the word, a form of power which can be thought of as ‘legitimate power’. HeRead MoreThe Power and Authority of the Government Essay examples845 Words   |  4 PagesThe Power and Authority of the Government Power can be seen as the capacity of a government to get its citizens to comply with it. Power is quite broadly used and can even be seen as obedience as this shows a deliberate self restraint of citizens that might otherwise resist the government. It has a direct connection with authority as authority carries the implication that the institution that has power is supported in its decisions by a substantial amount of people andRead MoreGovernment Power and Authorities1111 Words   |  5 PagesSeparation of Powers, Identify the Major Sources of State and Federal authorities explicit to the Constitution, and explain why the division of powers architecture was important to the Framers. Federalism is the division of Governmental powers and authorities between the State and Federal Governments. Separation of Powers is not actually labeled or defined within the constitution. However, the Framers of the constitution found â€Å"to avoid tyranny, a separation or division of authority must exist†Read MoreThe Concept of an International Community Essay1373 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept of an international community existing on the scale at which it does today is fairly new (Bromley, 2009, p. 410). In this new world order, states must interact with each other on a far more integrated and cohesive level in order to maintain international order. In the following essay, we will evaluate the claim that â€Å"there is no legitimate authority internationally† (Bromley, 2009, p. 427). In the process, we will examine two competing views of international order - the realist and the liberalRead MoreThe American Empire: A Reality 1100 Words   |  5 Pages The United States has undergone significant changes since the Founders signed the Constitution in 1787 and created the largest federal republic at that time. When drafting the Constitution the Founders created checks and balances to limit the power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Since 1787, however, the executive branch has accumulated a massive amount of power and authority over the other two branches. More acutely, the President has gained the authority to control the financialRead More Max Weber on Society Essay870 Words   |  4 Pagesaspects are state power, authority, class inequality, imperialism, and bureaucracy. To understand how Weber thought one must look at each area separately then put them all together in a global package. Weber describes history in terms of the constant struggle for power. He bases all significant historical changes on the power struggle that caused them. Weber describes power as a zero sum game. That means for one person to gain power, someone else has to loose the same amount of power. A fundamentalRead MorePower By Niccolo Machiavelli, Hannah Arendt, And Karl Emil1461 Words   |  6 PagesPower is defined as a political action coerced to exercise or to pursuit. It influences and controls the content of political power. The theory of power is argued by Niccolo Machiavelli, Hannah Arendt, and Karl Emil (Max) Weber. Machiavelli’s position stood that power is held by individuals. As for Arendt, she believed power was maintained within groups, while Weber believed power lied in institutions. Niccolo Machiavelli based his position of individual power on his book The Prince. The Prince extendsRead MorePresidential Power And Presidential Authority1487 Words   |  6 PagesAs Howell states in his opening line â€Å"what do we expect of our president? The answer is at once obvious and unbelievable: everything† (1, Howell). The President is the elected head of the United States government this position grants them with both authority and power. However the authority and power that come from this are two vastly different things. Presidential power is as Neustadt defines the power to persuade with the effect of creating legislation, where as presidential authority is the formalRead MoreThe Anarchist Challenge : A Theory Of Society Without Any Established Authority1664 Words   |  7 Pagesany established authority† at any level, a state where man has absolute freedom and his autonomy assured. The anarchist challenge is clearly put by Wolff â€Å"The defining mark of the state is authority, the right to rule. The primary obligation of man is autonomy, the refusal to be ruled. It would seem, then, that there can be no resolution of the conflict between the autonomy of the individual and the putative authority of the state. (1970 p10). If man agrees to be part of a state, the anarchist arguesRead MoreThe Guardian Article, By Glenn Greenwald1300 Words   |  6 Pagesworst â€Å"ever on issues of national security and press freedom’† (Greenwald, 2013, np.). Yet, the United States government’s aggressive efforts to control information, thwart accountability reporting, maintain national security secrets, and the persecution of government whistleblowers, is not new, nor is it unique to the Obama administration. The practice of attempting to expand and concentrate power in the executive branch of government is historically consistent with past administrations. In my opinion