1. Tasks for 5B Politics
Take notes on the example of Gordon Brown and why he lacked legitimacy as Prime Minister
Research Theresa May and why she lacks legitimacy as PM. Ensure you answer all the questions in your research (this should be submitted to AQ.)
Create (or complete if already started) a revision poster which;
Clearly outlines & describes the key terms Power, Authority & Legitimacy
Gives examples of each
Explains their relation to each other

2. Legitimate = Rightful What is legitimacy?
Usually legitimacy comes from a ‘fair process’ i.e. an election, a ballot, a contract, an fair interview process
It is often a belief that a leader has a right to govern
Without legitimacy, a government can collapse
Legitimate = Rightful
Legitimacy is what many describe as the ‘right to rule’
It is closely linked to authority i.e. in order to have authority you must be viewed as legitimate

3. Power, Authority = Legitimacy
Power that is seen to be LEGITIMATE is seen as fair & right Therefore coercion (force) is not needed
I.e. Most people obey rules even if they don’t agree with them. This is because they accept the system of government as legitimate. This LEGITIMATE power is called AUTHORITY Legitimacy Example In May 2011, Alex Salmond’s SNP gained a majority in the Scottish Parliament – 69 of 129 seats. Even though the AMS system was designed to prevent majority governments, they won more than 50% of seats. This gave the SNP government legitimacy, and Alex Salmond legitimacy as First Minister.

4. Example of No Legitimacy
However, he had all the powers that Tony Blair (a strong PM) had as PM, So if he has the power why not the Authority? Brown’s unelected inheritance of Blair’s power was seen by many as illegitimate (he ran almost unopposed for labour leader), in that since there was no general election, Brown was not the ‘rightful’ PM.
Gordon Brown PM
Chancellor of the Exchequer from
1992 – 2007 under Blair
Popular chancellor, seen as staid
and reliable
10 May 2007, Tony Blair resigned
Brown won Labour nomination and became PM
Did not call a new election
Unpopular Prime Minister – blamed for economic problems
Resigned after 3 years

5. Example of No Legitimacy – Theresa May
Who is she?
What job did she do before PM? Details!
When & How she became PM
Why people say she has no legitimacy