Rational-legal authority is
legitimate because laws, rules, norms, and procedures are respected and obeyed because they are laws, rules, norms, and procedures
. Rational-legal authority is reifying and rarely challenged. People obey rational-legal authority because of law, instead of belief (charisma) or tradition.
What does rational-legal refer to?
Rational-legal authority is
legitimate because laws, rules, norms, and procedures are respected and obeyed because they are laws, rules, norms, and procedures
. Rational-legal authority is reifying and rarely challenged. People obey rational-legal authority because of law, instead of belief (charisma) or tradition.
According to Weber (1968), a rational-legal form of authority is characterized by
abstract legality and stability
and is based on balancing all everyday activities which are repetitive; it contains a system of rational rules.
The authority system is rational
because means are designed expressly to achieve certain goals and it is legal because authority is exercised through an office with its associated rules and procedures
. For Weber the bureaucratic organization was technically the most efficient form of organization possible.
President Barack Obama
: Barack Obama, President of the United States, derives his authority from a rational-legal system of laws outlined in a formal document, the Constitution of the United States of America.
Examples of Traditional Authority
The Royal Court
, which is attached to a ruler is typically filled with family and friends, who often serve as administrators as well. However, since appointments are made based on relationships to the ruler, the appointed may not be competent.
Examples of some of the charismatic leaders are
Gamal Abdul Nasser (Middle East)
, Saddam Hussein, Houari Boumediene, Yassar Arafat, Ayatolah Khumeini, etc. Egypt and Libya under Mubarak and Gaddafi as their charismatic leaders saw them directing their succession to their sons and families.
- Legal Authority.
- Traditional or Formal or top-down Authority.
- Acceptance or Bottom-up Authority.
- Charismatic Authority.
- Competence or personal Authority.
Traditional authority:
Power legitimized by respect for long-established cultural patterns
. … Rational-legal authority: Also known as bureaucratic authority, is when power is legitimized by legally enacted rules and regulations such as Weber.
Basis for Comparison Power Authority Meaning Power means the ability or potential of an individual to influence others and control their actions. The legal and formal right to give orders and commands, and take decisions is known as an Authority.
Legitimacy, dominance, informality, rationality and accountability
are the characteristics of authority.
Authority is
rooted in fear and always has been
. Authority comes from the long-instilled belief and outlook that if you break the law you get punished, and rightfully so; I think that on paper it looks good, but people with power have used fear and authority negatively and divisively.
Authority can be used to protect our rights to life, liberty, and property
. Authority can be used to provide order and security in people’s lives. For example, air traffic controllers prevent accidents and provide safety for airplane passengers. Authority can be used to manage conflict peacefully and fairly.
His three types of authority are
traditional authority, charismatic authority and legal-rational authority
(Weber 1922). mandate to rule.
Rational-Legal Authority. According to Weber,
power made legitimate by laws, written rules, and regulations
is termed rational-legal authority. In this type of authority, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine.
- Type # 1. Line Authority:
- Type # 2. Staff Authority:
- Type # 3. Functional Authority:
