Authority

Overview
Authority is the idea that someone else has the right to make certain decisions which others must go along with. (It can also refer to the person who has been given this right.)

Authority within a certain area is usually rationally derived from either or both of the following:
 * the fact that the person has far more experience than others in a certain area
 * the fact that the person has been chosen to make decisions in a certain area

However, authority is often granted without rational justification.

Related Pages

 * authoritarianism
 * The Authoritarians
 * authoritarian follower
 * authoritarian leader