Which authority is based on mutual agreement?

Which authority is based on mutual agreement?

• A. Charismatic
• B. Traditional
• C. Rational
• D. Legal

Answer: (C)

Rational-legal authority is the one grounded in a system of rules and offices that people accept as legitimate. It rests on formal laws, procedures, and bureaucratic structures, so obedience comes from belief in the rule of law rather than from personal charm or traditional customs. This mutual agreement means both those who govern (by creating and enforcing the rules) and those who are governed (who consent by following the legal framework) recognize and accept the legitimacy of the authority. Charismatic authority relies on a leader’s personal appeal, and traditional authority rests on customs and lineage, not on a formal system of rules that people collectively accept. So the best answer is rational-legal authority.

Rational-legal authority is the one grounded in a system of rules and offices that people accept as legitimate. It rests on formal laws, procedures, and bureaucratic structures, so obedience comes from belief in the rule of law rather than from personal charm or traditional customs. This mutual agreement means both those who govern (by creating and enforcing the rules) and those who are governed (who consent by following the legal framework) recognize and accept the legitimacy of the authority. Charismatic authority relies on a leader’s personal appeal, and traditional authority rests on customs and lineage, not on a formal system of rules that people collectively accept. So the best answer is rational-legal authority.