Final answer:
The situation where the state nurses association writes, sponsors, and lobbies for a new Nurse Practice Act best fits the description that power is exercised through and depends on institutions, option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the state nurses association creates a new version of the Nurse Practice Act, secures a sponsor in the legislature, and lobbies legislators to adopt the bill, they're exercising power within the political system. This scenario best fits option c. Power is exercised through and depends on institutions.
This choice reflects the idea that professional organizations, such as the state nurses association, use legislative processes and governmental institutions to advance their agendas and effect change within the legal system. This leverages the institutional power that the legislature holds in creating public laws, which can pertain to a wide range of topics from health care to civil rights.
Furthermore, as government institutions have the ability to regulate licensing for professionals, including nurses, it is evident that their power to affect daily lives is significant and rooted in structured political processes.