1. How and Who has the power/authority to rule?
Political Legitimacy
How and Who has the power/authority
to rule?

2. Political Legitimacy Legitimacy - the right to rule.
3 Forms of Legitimacy (Max Weber)
Traditional Legitimacy
Charismatic Legitimacy
Rational-Legal Legitimacy

3. King Louis XIV of France
Political Legitimacy
Legitimacy - the right to rule.
1. Traditional Legitimacy – the belief that tradition should determine who should rule & how.
Most Monarchies
Ritual, Symbols & ceremonies reinforce
Often shaped by religion
King Louis XIV of France
A Divine Right Monarch

4. Nazi Leader Adolf Hitler
Political Legitimacy
Legitimacy - the right to rule.
2. Charismatic Legitimacy – based on the dynamic personality of an individual leader or small group.
Qualities compel people to want to follow & even give their lives to their leader
Notoriously short-lived (does not survive its founder)
Nazi Leader Adolf Hitler

5. Political Legitimacy Legitimacy - the right to rule.
3. Rational-Legal Legitimacy – based on a system of well-established laws & procedures.
Highly institutionalized, based on the rule of law
1) Common Law – based on tradition, past practices, and legal precedents set by the courts
ex.) United States
2.) Code Law – based on a system of written rules (codes) of law set by the legislature
ex.) China, Mexico, Russia

6. Political Legitimacy Factors that Encourage Legitimacy
1. Economic Well-Being – citizens tend to credit their
government with economic prosperity
2. Historical Longevity – governments (regime forms) that have been in place for a while
3. Charismatic Leadership – powerful factor
4. Shared Political Culture – citizens strongly identify with themselves & government
5. Satisfaction – citizens benefit from the government