Which option defines authority as the power to control?

• A. The person or group that is in charge of a person, group or region
• B. An expert on a specific subject
• C. Power; the ability and right to control
• D. Official permission

Answer: (C)

Authority means the combination of power and the legitimate right to influence or command others. The option that defines it as “power; the ability and right to control” captures both elements—the capacity to act and the entitlement to exercise that control. That makes it the best fit because authority isn’t just about who leads (a person in charge), nor is it merely expertise, nor merely permission. The other descriptions describe who has authority, a person’s knowledge, or a permission grant, none of which fully define the concept of authority itself.