The right to govern and administer the affairs of the people of a country is ________

Step 1: Analyze the question The key phrase is "the right to govern and administer." The question asks for the term that means a legitimate or lawful right to rule, not just the ability to do so.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Power: The ability to make others do something, whether by force, threat, or persuasion. It does not need to be legitimate. A armed robber or a military junta can have power without a legal right to rule.
• Authority: The legitimate right to exercise power, usually recognised by law, a constitution, or the consent of the people. It is power that is accepted as rightful.
• Influence: The ability to affect people's opinions or decisions without force or formal right, for example a respected traditional ruler, a pastor, or the media.
• Diplomacy: The management of relations between countries through negotiation. It has nothing to do with governing a country's people internally.

Step 3: Apply to the question The question says "right to govern." The word right points to legitimacy, which is the defining feature of authority. For example, an elected President of Nigeria has the authority to govern because the Constitution and the electorate give him that right.

Step 4: Eliminate the wrong options

• A. Power: it is the ability, not the right, so it is incorrect.
• B. Diplomacy: it concerns foreign relations, so it is incorrect.
• D. Influence: it is informal and carries no right to rule, so it is incorrect.

Answer: C. Authority

Exam tip: Remember it this way: Power = ability, Authority = right. When you see "legitimate right" or "lawful right" in a Government question, think authority. When you see "ability to make others obey," think power.