What is power in government?
Power is the ability to influence the behavior of another person under threat of sanctions. Sanctions can be negative or positive.
Thus, a political leader may have the ability to control the actions of others by promising wealth and honor to those who support him, or he may threaten to withhold these rewards from those who oppose him. However, failure to comply could result in sanctions.
Power can take four forms
Political Power – It is the power that comes from the people and the constitution.
Economic Power – It is the power that can be obtained through the possession of economic resources.
military strength – this is the strength of the armed forces.
Physical/Naga Power – This form of power uses violence.
Sources of Power
From the Constitution By inheritance
Through charisma
Through economic resources or wealth
Through force/coercion
Definition of power
Authority, proposed by Max Weber, refers to the formal or legal right to make and enforce laws or policies. It means the recognition of the right to exercise the power granted by the people, regardless of sanctions.
Types of power
The sociologist and philosopher Max Weber divides power into three types.
1. Traditional Authority – It is a type of authority that is legitimized by the strength of tradition. This type of authority is found in traditional societies where the king/chief rules his subjects according to the customs and traditions of the country. Traditional authority can be passed down from generation to generation, often through inheritance.
2.Charismatic Power – This is a type of power given to an individual due to his or her exceptional qualities. For example, if a person is considered trustworthy in society, they may be made king or demoted to treasurer because of the trustworthiness they see in them.
3. Legal/Rational Authority – This is the authority that derives from the law or constitution of a state. It can also be referred
to as political/constitutional power. This type of power occurs primarily in the modern democratic state, in private and public companies and other associations. The nation does not obey a single leader (e.g. the president), but rather a set of principles (constitution) according to which the state is governed.
4. Delegated Authority – This authority is usually delegated to an individual to carry out tasks and responsibilities in specific areas.
5. Technical authority – based on the level of expertise acquired by a person on the job. This type of authority must be respected, recognized and accepted in this particular area.
6. Political power – This is the power given to people who hold political office, e.g.the President and the legislators. The policies
established and implemented are based on the provisions of the Constitution.
7. Coercive power – It is power based on the use of force. There is always fear of the consequences of refusing or disregarding this authority, such as loss of power. Military dictatorship.
Max Weber argued that no power structure could be purely bureaucratic because certain positions were filled by different charismatic leaders.
Unbureaucratic legal authority can be found in rotating organizations, such as parliamentary and committee administrations as well as all types of collegial and administrative bodies. (Weber 1958)
The difference between power and authority
1. Authority is the ability to influence another person’s behavior through the threat of some form of sanction, while authority is the formal or legal right to make and enforce a law or policy.
2.Power is based on acceptance and is largely legitimate, while authority can be legitimate or illegitimate, such as the military in power.
3. It has been stated that authority can be delegated with legitimate responsibility, but authority cannot be delegated.
4. Since the power is legitimate, the sanctions associated with it are not as severe as the sanctions.
