Akademik

au·thor·i·ty n pl -ties

1: an official decision of a court used esp. as a precedent

2 a: a power to act esp. over others that derives from status, position, or office

the authority of the president; also: jurisdiction

b: the power to act that is officially or formally granted (as by statute, corporate bylaw, or court order)

police officers executing a warrant...are not required to “knock and announce” their authority and purposes before entering — National Law Journal

c: power and capacity to act granted by someone in a position of control; specif: the power to act granted by a principal to his or her agent

actual authority: the authority that a principal in reality has granted to an agent

actual express authority: the actual authority of an agent specifically stated or written by the principal

actual implied authority: the actual authority of an agent that the principal has not specified but has purposely or through negligence allowed the agent to believe has been granted

apparent authority: the authority that a principal purposely or through negligence allows a third party to believe that the principal's agent has although such authority has not in reality been granted – called also authority by estoppel, ostensible authority;

◇ A principal is bound by the acts of an agent acting with apparent authority.

express authority: authority that is explicitly granted to an agent by a principal – called also expressed authority, stipulated authority;

implied authority: the authority to perform acts that are customary, necessary, and understood by an agent as authorized in performing acts for which the principal has given express authority

ostensible authority: apparent authority in this entry

stipulated authority: express authority in this entry

3: a person in a position of power and esp. a public office

— usu. used in pl.

the local authorities

4 a: a government agency or corporation that administers a revenue-producing public enterprise

b: a government agency or public office responsible for an area of regulation