What is power and authority?

According to the dictionary (www.dictionary.com) Power comes from the Latin 'potere' which means 'to be able.' Just from this little description we can tell that to have power would mean that you are able to do things. The dictionary then goes on to say that if you have power you can do anything you want, within reason. Authority is the power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge. Authority is …

…about to happen is in their best interests. So to conclude Power is the capacity to achieve goals by any means necessary, whether legal or illegal. Either by means of peaceful persuasion; economic leverage or force or by a contribution of the above. While Authority, on the other hand, is the rightful use of power. It is the exercise of legitimate power. Authority is often conferred by rules and must be exercised using those rules.