Roget's Thesaurus

#737. Authority

Nouns

authority; influence, patronage, power, preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction; right etc. (title) 924; direction etc. 693; government etc. 737a. divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness; absoluteness, absolutism; despotism; jus nocendi [Lat.]; jus divinum [Lat.]. mastery, mastership, masterdom; dictation, control. hold, grasp; grip, gripe; reach; iron sway etc. (severity) 739; fangs, clutches, talons; rod of empire etc. (scepter) 747. [Vicarious authority] commission etc. 755; deputy etc. 759; permission etc. 760.

Verbs

authorize etc. (permit) 760; warrant etc. (right) 924; dictate etc. (order) 741. be at the head of etc. adj.; hold office, be in office, fill an office; hold master, occupy master, a post master, be master etc. 745. have the upper hand, get the upper hand, have the whip, get the whip; gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roost; boss [U.S.]; override, overrule, overawe; lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one's little finger, bend to one's will, hold one's own, wear the breeches; have the ball at one's feet, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand, have on the hip, have under one's thumb; be master of the situation; take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion; give the law to; carry with a high hand; lay down the law; ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm [Addison]; rule with a rod of iron etc. (severity) 739.

Adjectives

at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential; arbitrary; compulsory etc. 744; stringent. at one's command; in one's power, in one's grasp; under control.

Adverbs

in the name of, by the authority of, de par le Roi [Fr.], in virtue of; under the auspices of, in the hands of. at one's pleasure; by a dash if the pen, by a stroke of the pen; ex mero motu [Lat.]; ex cathedra [Lat.], from the chair.

Phrases

the gray mare the better horse; every inch a king [Lear]. 780,

#737a. Government

Nouns

government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority; authority etc. 737; master etc. 745; direction etc. 693. [nations] national government, nation, state, country, nation-state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic; kingdom, principality. [subdivisions of nations] state government [Lat.], state; shire [Brit.]; province [Can.]; county [Ire.]; canton [Switz.]; territory [Austral.]; duchy, archduchy, archdukedom; woiwodshaft; commonwealth; region etc. 181; property etc. 780. [smaller subdivisions] county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement [Fr.], mofussil, commune; wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing; ward, precinct, bailiwick. command, empire, sway, rule; dominion, domination; sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty; lordship, headship; chiefdom; seigniory, seigniority. rule, sway, command, control, administer; govern etc. (direct) 693; lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne; sway the scepter, wield the scepter; wear the crown. state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus [Lat.]. [person in the governing authority] judicature etc. 965; cabinet etc. (council) 696; seat of government, seat of authority; headquarters. [Acquisition of authority] accession; installation etc. 755; politics etc. 737a. reign, regime, dynasty; directorship, dictatorship; protectorate, protectorship; caliphate, pashalic, electorate; presidency, presidentship; administration; proconsul, consulship; prefecture; seneschalship; magistrature, magistracy. monarchy; kinghood, kingship; royalty, regality; aristarchy, aristocracy; oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy; commonwealth; dominion; heteronomy; republic, republicanism; socialism; collectivism; mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy; vox populi, imperium in imperio [Lat.]; bureaucracy; beadledom, bumbledom; stratocracy; military power, military government, junta; feodality, feudal system, feudalism. thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy; duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy; duumvirate; triumvirate; autocracy, autonomy; limited monarchy; constitutional government, constitutional monarchy; home rule; representative government; monocracy, pantisocracy. gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy; petticoat government. [government functions] legislature, judiciary, administration. [Government agencies and institutions] office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet; senate, house of representatives, parliament; council etc. 696; courts, supreme court; [U.S. national government departments], state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury; Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI; Central Intelligence Agency, CIA; National Institutes of Health, NIH; Postal Service, Post Office; Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. [national government officials] president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister; senator, representatative, president pro tem [Lat.], speaker of the house; department head, section head, section chief; federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice; treasurer, secretary of the treasury; director of the FBI. [state government officials] governor, state cabinet member; state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman.

Verbs

govern, rule, have authority, hold authority, possess authority, exercise authority, exert authority, wield authority etc. n.; reign, be sovereign. [acquire authority] ascend the throne, mount the throne; take the reins, take the reins into one's hand; assume authority etc. n., assume the reins of government; take command, assume command. [contend for authority] politics etc. 737a. be governed by, be in the power of, be a subject of, be a citizen of.

Adjectives

regal, sovereign, governing; royal, royalist; monarchical, kingly; imperial, imperiatorial; princely; feudal; aristocratic, autocratic; oligarchic etc. n.; republican, dynastic. ruling etc. v.; regnant, gubernatorial; imperious; authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute; hegemonic, hegemonical; authorized etc. (due) 924. [pertaining to property owned by government] government, public; national, federal; his majesty's [Brit.], her majesty's; state, county, city, etc. N..

Phrases

a dog's obeyed in office [Lear]; cada uno tiene su alguazil [Sp.]; le Roi le veut [Fr.]; regibus esse manus en nescio longas [Lat.]; regnant populi [Lat.]; the demigod Authority [Lat.Tran] [Measure for Measure]; the right divine of kings to govern wrong [Pope]; uneasy lies the head that wears a crown [Henry IV].

#737b. Politics

Nouns

politics; political science; candidacy, campaign, campaigning, electioneering; partisanship, ideology, factionalism. election, poll, ballot, vote, referendum, recall, initiative, voice, suffrage, plumper, cumulative vote, plebiscitum [Lat.], plebiscite, vox populi; electioneering; voting etc. v.; elective franchise; straight ticket [U.S.]; opinion poll, popularity poll. issue; opinion, stand, position; program, platform; party line. [ideologies] democracy, republicanism; communism, statism, state socialism; socialism; conservatism, toryism; liberalism, whigism; theocracy; constitutional monarchy. [political parties] party etc. 712; [U.S: Political parties list], Democratic Party, Republican Party, Socialist Party; Communist Party; [U.S. defunct parties: list], Federalist Party, Bull Moose Party, Abolitionist Party; [Germany: list], Christian Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party; National Socialist Worker's Party; [Germany, 1930-1945], Nazi Party; [Great Britain:list], Liberal Party, Labor Party, Conservative Party. ticket, slate. [person active in politics] politician, activist; [specific politicians: list], candidate, aspirant, hopeful, office-seeker, front-runner, dark horse, long shot, shoo-in; supporter, backer, political worker, campaign worker; lobbyist, contributor; party hack, ward heeler; regional candidate, favorite son; running mate, stalking horse; perpetual candidate, political animal. political contribution, campaign contribution; political action committee, PAC. political district, electoral division, electoral district, bailiwick. electorate, constituents. get-out-the-vote campaign, political education. negative campaigning, dirty politics, smear campaign. [unsuccessful candidate] also-ran, loser; has-been. [successful candidate] office holder, official, occupant of a position; public servant, incumbent; winner.

Verbs

run for office, stand for office; campaign, stump; throw one's hat in the ring; announce one's candidacy.

Adjectives

political, partisan.

Phrases

Money is the mother's milk of politics [Tip O'Neill].