Authority in the Public Services - Essay
Authority in the public services
Authority means the right or power to enforce rules or give orders. To do this they need legislations to enforce their laws, to function properly the uniformed pubic services need to have legislations.
The extent of authority relates to the limit of control held by an individual or organisation. The limit of control is governed by the job description of the role, as well as the jurisdiction, with authority coming either from statute or company policy.
An example would be Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons who has the authority under the Ministry of Justice to inspect and report to the Government on the treatment and conditions for all prisoners in England and Wales. The authority of the Inspectorate extends to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and some dependent territories of Commonwealth countries.
The power or right to enforce obedience means the authority of an individual or organisation to enforce obedience. It is similar to the extent of authority in that the right is granted by statute or policy and the person or organisation enforcing obedience does so within an accepted legal framework.
For example, a senior police officer has the right to ensure that colleagues remain honest because such a principle is included in the Police Code of Conduct. Similarly, any officer in the uniformed public services has the power or right to enforce obedience from any officer of a lower rank provided that such an act of obedience does not contravene rules and regulations of that particular uniformed public service.
Any request to perform an illegal act is not a lawful order and the person making the request has no power or right to enforce it.
Nature of authority
Power, like discipline, has several applications and, again, like discipline, it depends upon the context in which it is used. It can refer to the strength or might of something or someone (for example, military strength) or it can mean the ability to
Authority means the right or power to enforce rules or give orders. To do this they need legislations to enforce their laws, to function properly the uniformed pubic services need to have legislations.
The extent of authority relates to the limit of control held by an individual or organisation. The limit of control is governed by the job description of the role, as well as the jurisdiction, with authority coming either from statute or company policy.
An example would be Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons who has the authority under the Ministry of Justice to inspect and report to the Government on the treatment and conditions for all prisoners in England and Wales. The authority of the Inspectorate extends to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and some dependent territories of Commonwealth countries.
The power or right to enforce obedience means the authority of an individual or organisation to enforce obedience. It is similar to the extent of authority in that the right is granted by statute or policy and the person or organisation enforcing obedience does so within an accepted legal framework.
For example, a senior police officer has the right to ensure that colleagues remain honest because such a principle is included in the Police Code of Conduct. Similarly, any officer in the uniformed public services has the power or right to enforce obedience from any officer of a lower rank provided that such an act of obedience does not contravene rules and regulations of that particular uniformed public service.
Any request to perform an illegal act is not a lawful order and the person making the request has no power or right to enforce it.
Nature of authority
Power, like discipline, has several applications and, again, like discipline, it depends upon the context in which it is used. It can refer to the strength or might of something or someone (for example, military strength) or it can mean the ability to