Rational-legal authority

Definition

Rational-legal authority is a form of leadership where power is legitimized by legal rules and regulations which are usually written down and codified. This type of authority is characteristic of modern societies where governance is carried out through a bureaucratic system based on rational-legal principles.

Related terms

Bureaucracy:

A system of government or business that has many complicated rules and ways of doing things, often characterized by a hierarchical structure.

Charismatic authority: A type of power that rests in the strong, personal appeal of an individual leader which often inspires devotion and obedience.

Traditional authority: A form of leadership in which the ruler's legitimacy is rooted in custom, heritage, and long-established ways