You are chatting with your seatmate while classes are going

on, and your teacher noticed. She called your attention and
asked you to explain what you are doing. Having no acceptable
reason for your behavior, you just stood silent and waited for
your teacher to respond. She told you that you were misbehaving
and disrespecting the whole class. As a punishment, she asked
you to write an essay assignment stating that you would not do
the behavior again. You promptly follow and feel regretful for
what you did.
Now, imagine yourself chatting with your classmate at a fast
food restaurant during lunch hours. You were approached by a
student your age who asked you to stop chatting with your friend
because it is inappropriate. The student also asked you to write
him a note saying that you would not chat with your friend
again. How would you respond to such request?
Does the student’s request have the same bearing
with what your teacher asked from you?
AUTHORITY AND
LEGITIMACY
 According to Thomas Hobbes, power could be defined
as a form of control that coerces a person to obey
another.

People follow more powerful individuals by choice

or by force.

States also uphold power

among their members through laws
and norms.
 Authority

When there is power, authority could be upheld.

1. Theoretical- authority could refer to an individual’s

expertise in a particular topic of interest.

2. Practical- an authority is given the ability to coerce

people in social activities because of the power they
hold.

Authority, in the political sense therefore, means that a

certain political entity has the right to use and exercise
its power over a specific group or society.
 Sociologist Max Weber viewed authority as a
form of legitimate power.
 Legitimacy

According to Weber, is the belief that a certain entity

has a right to rule or to be in authority.

This would imply that power and authority is seen as

something that is rightful and acceptable to be upheld by
the governing body.

REMEMBER:
Legitimacy connects power and authority. A person or
organization who has authority but is not seen as
legitimate could fail in employing power over society.
 According to Beetham, for a political
organization or entity to be considered
legitimate, it must meet three criteria:

1. Power must be exercised according to

rules.
2. Rules must be justified both by the
political government and the society.
3. The government should consent and agree
with the power and authority of the
political organization.
 ACTIVITY:
Throughout your life, you may have encountered
various authority figures who have impacted your
life in some way. These may be your former
teachers, tutors, or instructors who provided you
learnings that you still appreciate at present.
On a sheet of paper, list all of the authority
figures you have encountered so far. Also detail
how they contributed to your personal life.