Question

1.2.2 quiz: how governments function
question 1 of 10
which statement best describes the relationship between power and
authority?

a. authority is the ability to use power legitimately.

b. authority is a type of power used only in democracies.

c. authority is only used to enforce rule of law in the absence of
power.

d. authority is the use of power specifically by a nation - state.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Authority is about the legitimate use of power. In political science (a subfield of Social Science), authority is recognized as the right to exercise power in a legitimate way, so this aligns with the concepts of power and authority.
• Option B: Authority is not limited to democracies; non - democratic systems also have authority, so this is incorrect.
• Option C: Authority is related to the legitimate use of power, not the use in the absence of power. This misrepresents the relationship, so it's wrong.
• Option D: Authority is not only used by nation - states; other entities (like organizations) can have authority too, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. Authority is the ability to use power legitimately.