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[[Image:Reading-room-british-museum-2.jpg|left]]

[[Image:Reading-room-british-museum-2.jpg|left|frame|<center>British Museum Reading Room</center>]]

In [[politics]], '''authority''' ([[Latin language|Latin]] ''[[auctoritas]]'', used in [[Roman law]] as opposed to ''[[potestas]]'' and ''[[imperium]]'') is often used interchangeably with the term "[[Power (sociology)|power]]". However, their meanings differ.  "Power" refers to the ability to achieve certain ends, 'authority' refers to the legitimacy, justification and right to exercise that power.  For example whilst a Crowd/mob has the power to punish a criminal, such as through lynching, only the courts have the authority to order capital punishment.

In [[politics]], '''authority''' ([[Latin language|Latin]] ''[[auctoritas]]'', used in [[Roman law]] as opposed to ''[[potestas]]'' and ''[[imperium]]'') is often used interchangeably with the term "[[Power (sociology)|power]]". However, their meanings differ.  "Power" refers to the ability to achieve certain ends, 'authority' refers to the legitimacy, justification and right to exercise that power.  For example whilst a Crowd/mob has the power to punish a criminal, such as through lynching, only the courts have the authority to order capital punishment.