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Difficulty: MediumAuthority: Definition, Scope, and Weberian Typology

In a modern state, citizens comply with public safety regulations enacted by parliament not out of personal devotion to individual lawmakers or respect for ancient customs, but because the regulations were established through defined constitutional procedures. Which form of authority does this situation illustrate?

  1. Legal-rational authorityAnswer
  2. B
    Traditional authority
  3. C
    Charismatic authority
  4. D
    Coercive power

Answer

Legal-rational authority is demonstrated because compliance is based on adherence to established constitutional processes and codified statutory laws.
Legal-rational authority is based on a belief in the legality of enacted rules and the right of constitutional authorities to issue commands. In this scenario, obedience to public safety regulations stems directly from their lawful creation through constitutional parliamentary procedures.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source of legitimacy described in the scenario.
Legitimacy is anchored in statutory law and constitutional procedures.
The prompt specifies that citizens obey regulations because they were created through proper constitutional channels, not due to personal loyalty or custom.
2
Map the source of legitimacy to Max Weber's typology of authority.
The scenario fits the definition of legal-rational (or bureaucratic) authority.
Weber defines legal-rational authority as power legitimized by legally enacted rules and the constitutional right of officials to issue commands within prescribed bounds.

Key Concept

Max Weber's Legal-Rational Authority
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Topics

Authority: Definition, Scope, and Weberian Typology

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