The legal right to exercise power in a state is known as______

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the term that describes the legal right to exercise power in a state. The key phrase is "legal right", so we are looking for power that is lawful and recognized, not just power that is forced or persuasive.

2. Explain the concepts

• Power is the ability to make others do what you want, whether or not it is legal.
• Authority is power that is legitimate and legally recognized. It is the right to give orders and make decisions, and to have them obeyed. A president, governor, or court judge has authority because the constitution gives it to them.
• Sovereignty is the supreme, ultimate power of the state, including independence from external control. It describes the state's overall supremacy, not the legal right of an individual or office to exercise power.
• Coercion is the use of force or threats to make people comply. It can be legal or illegal, so it is not defined by legal right.
• Influence is the ability to affect people's decisions through persuasion, reputation, or pressure, without any legal backing.

3. Work through the options

• A. Authority: it is the legal, legitimate right to exercise power. ✔
• B. Sovereignty: it is the supreme power of the state, not the legal right to exercise power. ✘
• C. Coercion: it is force, and has nothing to do with legal right. ✘
• D. Influence: it is persuasion with no legal basis. ✘

4. Answer The legal right to exercise power in a state is Authority, which is option A.

5. Exam tip Link the words: Authority = Legitimate (legal) power, Sovereignty = Supreme power, Coercion = Compulsion/force, Influence = Persuasion. When you see "legal right" or "legitimate" in a Government question, think authority.