Final answer:
Legitimate power is the authority recognized and accepted by society as rightfully placed to exert influence, often seen as arising from rational-legal authority, traditional authority, or charismatic authority. For stable governance, a legitimate authority should operate within prescribed rules or laws to maintain public faith in the system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Legitimate power refers to the ability of a person to exercise their will over others within the bounds of a recognized and accepted authority structure. This form of power arises from a job, position, or status that is agreed upon by a society or group as rightfully placed to exert such influence. For instance, in a work environment, power is often established through rational-legal authority, which is power legitimized by rules, regulations, and policies, typically found in an employee handbook as the accepted standards for workplace behavior and management.
Traditional authority is power legitimized based on long-standing customs. This can be seen in societies where certain positions are respected due to historical precedent, such as monarchy or tribal leadership roles. Likewise, charismatic authority is a type of power deriving from an individual's exceptional personal qualities, inspiring devotion and followership beyond conventional norms.
For a government or governing body to be effective and stable, it should not only have authority but also legitimacy, which is the public belief in the rightness of that authority. The authority is considered legitimate when it is used in ways that are consistent with the duties or rules of the institution. For example, if an elected official operates within the limits of established governmental structures and laws, such as a constitution, that official's authority is seen as legitimate.