Authority

A right granted with the power to enact or order others to act. Examples include the authority an employer may have over an employee, a corporation over its officers, or governmental power over its citizens. There are many forms of authority within the UK legal system. The five most commonly referred to are apparent authority, express authority, limited authority, implied authority, and general authority. Apparent authority is where the senior may offer various signs and behaviours to indicate to their agents that they possess authority. Express authority and limited authority are where the terms of the senior power are distinctly defined, often in the form of written instructions. Implied authority largely derives from the position held by the senior, and general authority is the wider term given for the power to act in the name of another. Related terms include the principal (often used to describe the senior authority) and agent (often used to describe the individual(s) beneath the principal).