America’s political system and Weber′s three types of authority
Political powers play significant roles in a country and society. Politics involves the distribution of powers within a community, while powers entail an individual’s ability to command others regardless of the resistance. Thus political capabilities allow people or groups to control and influence functions, policies, and culture in society. For example, in the U.S, the constitution establishes a federal democratic form of government, where people govern themselves. Constitution also divides the federal administration into three branches, namely, executive, legislature, and judicial. Although the three arms of the government have different responsibilities, they collaborate for the country’s smooth running. The legislature makes laws that are evaluated by judicial, and later executive implements the rules. Thesis
Rational legal authority is one form of legitimate domination that Weber describes. Weber indicates that rational-legal authority is a form of power with logically created rules (Edles and Appelrouth, 2014). The legitimacy of this form of authority believes in the legality of the enacted laws and allows people elevated to power to issue commands. Additionally, the rational-legal authority expects a certain group of people to obey the commands of those bestowed with authority. As a result, it vests the superior people with authority to demand compliance and obedience from the subordinate group (Parsons, 2014). However, the command right ceases when the authorized people leave the office. For example, when a police officer or a judge retires from the office, they become a civilian with no powers to enforce laws or issue commands (Edles and Appelrouth, 2014). Thus rational-legal authority authorizes the elevated people to rule and command the subordinate civilians.
Besides the rational-legal dominion, Weber defines traditional authority. Edles and Appelrouth (2014) indicate that according to Weber, the belief in ancient customs’ sacredness establishes traditional powers. This form of government allows kings and tribal chieftains to exercise the conservative authority that dictates what was there and what should be. Additionally, traditional authority allows people to inherit authority from the predecessors and kin people. It also requires the subjects to obey the commands and demands of the master because obedience and loyalty are legalized by sacred.
Parsons, T. (2014). Rational-legal authority and bureaucracy. Policy Process: A Reader, 323.
Edles, L. D., & Appelrouth, S. (2014). Sociological theory in the classical era: Text and readings. Sage publications.