Mike W.

Gavin R.

Emily C.

Allysa

-Political authority is a branch of authority that is stemmed from a ruler or ruling class that has socially accepted right to govern and comes from mutual agreement between governed and governors. The most important tool of political authority is written laws, that are accepted by and enforced upon all subjects. Unlike Religious authority, Laws and bills change over time, to adapt to current situations. To sustain one's political authority, collaboration between foreign governments is imperative to success-- not only does political authority include power over the people, but also works to find a balance in power with other authorities.

Political Authority:

-requires a governor and a group being governed

-Political figures apply ethics most when it's required (when running for a position of power)-- in order to be accepted by the subjects, or governed group of people.

-Dependent on whether its principality or a republic

-Political authority rests more with the people in a republic.

-Ruler in a principality has the FREEDOM to treat people as objects, and decide how much freedom they can have. The only positive outcome of governing people is getting taxes, and military support.

-The main principal of ruling is to gain territory, not to gain people. (principality should be based on conquering)

-People need to know and abide by the prince. Fear, reliance and consequence allow rulers to maintain power.

-In alliances, governors and princes of smaller territories do not hold real authority-- they are dependent on a higher power/force.

Political authority, to be defined, needs a specific context. Republics, principalities (etc), all have different styles of authority, and different relationships with their people.

Political authority is unique because it adapts. Laws and bills change over time, more often than religious authority would.

-Different than social authority-- that's just a consensus among the people, as well as unwritten.

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