Which type of authority is conferred by custom and accepted practice?

The type of authority that is conferred by custom and accepted practice is traditional authority. This concept is rooted in historical social structures and norms that dictate how power and leadership are legitimized. Traditional authority is often associated with longstanding practices, customs, and the beliefs of a community that confer power to particular individuals or groups simply because of established traditions.

For example, a monarch may exercise traditional authority due to hereditary rights passed down through generations, reflecting the community's historical acceptance of the monarch's role. The emphasis on customs and practices highlights that such authority does not arise from legal systems or personal attributes but rather from the accepted and ingrained cultural norms of society.

In contrast, charismatic authority is based on the personal qualities and charisma of a leader, and legal-rational authority stems from established laws and formal regulations. Influential authority is less defined in sociological terms but generally describes a form of power that may stem from personal influence rather than tradition or law. Understanding these distinctions reinforces why traditional authority specifically is aligned with custom and historical practices.