->''"For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."''
-->-- '''A Roman Centurion''' to '''UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}''', [[Literature/TheFourGospels Luke 7:8]], ''Literature/TheBible''

Tropes about the different effects and displays of authority, leadership, and obedience.

Contrast RebelTropes.
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[[index]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Tropes about authority in general]]
[floatboxright:
'''See also:'''
+ PoliticsTropes
+ RoyaltyAndNobilityTropes
+ {{Schoolteachers}}
+ TheseTropesHaveBeenPromoted
]
* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: An authority figure hated by all.
* AlienNonInterferenceClause: Aliens are forbidden from meddling with the affairs of humans.
* TheAllegedBoss
* AntiNepotism
* ArtisticLicenseEducation: In the case of teachers and other school staff exerting their authority over students when, in real life, they should not have that much authority.
* ArtisticLicensePolitics
* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: The best fighter becomes the one in charge.
* AuthoritativeInPublicDocileInPrivate: Someone in a position of authority is markedly submissive when it comes to their personal life and romantic relationships.
* AuthorityInNameOnly: An authority figure who doesn't really have any power at all.
* AuthoritySoundsDeep: An authority figure's status is signaled by their deep voice.
* BadassBureaucrat
* BadBoss: An employer who is cruel, abusive and unfair towards their subordinates.
* BaitAndSwitchTyrant
* BaldOfAuthority
* BavarianFireDrill: Deceiving people by pretending to be an authority figure.
* BeleagueredBoss
* BenevolentBoss: An employer who is cordial, kind and fair to the employees.
* BigBad: The main antagonist of the work, who is often in charge of all the lesser evils the heroes confront.
* BigGood: The highest in authority who is on the good guys' side.
* BlamingTheMan
* BookshelfOfAuthority
* BotheringByTheBook
* BringThemAround: A hero or villain switching sides needs to convince her underlings to jump ship with her.
* CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough
* TheChainOfCommand
* TheChainsOfCommanding
* ChallengingTheChief
* ClipboardOfAuthority
* ClocksOfControl
* CluelessBoss
* ColorCodedPatrician
* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority
* CopHater
* CorporalPunishment
* CorruptBureaucrat
* DelegationRelay
* DependingUponTheUndependable: An authority figure keeps hiring or promoting incompetent people even though they know (or should know) disaster will always result.
* DisobeyedOrdersNotPunished
* ADoormatToHisMen
* EarnedStripes
* ErmineCapeEffect
* EvilOverlordList: A list of things one must consider if they ever decide to become an evil overlord in order to prevent ever being defeated.
* ForgotICouldChangeTheRules: An authority figure forgets that it's within their power to change the rules.
* GoGetterGirl
* GracefullyDemoted: Someone with a position of power accepts or even wants their demotion.
* GrandInquisitorScene
* HatOfAuthority
* HeadInTheSandManagement
* TheHero
* HumansAreLeaders
* InItsHourOfNeed
* IronLady
* JustGivingOrders
* KingOnHisDeathbed
* KlingonPromotion
* LargeAndInCharge: The leader is also the largest of the group.
* TheLastDJ
* LawfulEvil
* LawfulGood
* LawfulNeutral
* LawfulPushover
* TheLeader: The member of the group who calls the shots.
* LeaderFormsTheHead
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: A human/someone resembling a human who leads an army of monsters that look less human.
* MeanBoss: An employer who is impolite and petty towards their subordinates, but still fair.
* MightMakesRight
* MisterBig
* MistressAndServantBoy
* {{Nepotism}}: Employing your relatives.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: A bureaucrat who makes people file assloads of paperwork before they can be allowed to do anything.
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct
* OrderedToDie
* PenPushingPresident
* PhysicalFitnessPunishment
* PleaseSpareHimMyLiege
* PunctualityIsForPeasants
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Your skill in combat is equivalent to your rank in the hierarchy.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: An authority figure who is fair and unbiased, choosing not to take sides and allow all parties to defend themselves.
* ReasonableRequestRejected
* RiskingTheKing
* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: An authority figure believes that being in charge makes them above the law.
* ShamCeremony
* ShortLivedLeadership
* SilkHidingSteel
* SlidingScaleOfLeadershipResponsibility
* StaffOfAuthority
* StampOfRejection
* StandardizedLeader
* StillTheLeader
* SupportingLeader
* SwordOfDamocles
* TeenageWasteland
* ThatsAnOrder
* ToughLeaderFacade
* TyrantTakesTheHelm
* UnderNewManagement
* UnderStrangeManagement: An organization is run by unexpected or unqualified people.
* UnfitForGreatness
* UniversallyBelovedLeader
* VastBureaucracy
* VerticalPowerPlay: A character positions themself to appear bigger as expression of power, or smaller as an expression of submission.
* VolatileSecondTierPosition: The second-highest job in a hierarchy, but with some very demanding drawbacks.
* WhipOfDominance: Using a whip as a symbol of dominance, control, authority, or sadism.
* YoungAndInCharge
* YouRebelScum
* ZenSlap
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Authority and Love]]
* BodyguardCrush
* IgnoredEnamoredUnderling
* LadyAndKnight
* PowerDynamicsKink: Power and subordination serving as an erotic "turn-on".
* PowerfulPeopleAreSubs: An authority figure with an iron fist is ironically very submissive in the bedroom.
* SubordinateExcuse
* UnequalPairing
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Corporate Authority]]
* ArmyOfLawyers
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The head of a corporation is evil or at least very unscrupulous.
* GradeSchoolCEO
* HonestCorporateExecutive: The head of a corporation is honest and refuses to use their company to do anything illegal or unethical.
* MajorityShareDictator
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Governmental Authority]]
* ActionPolitician
* AdiposeRex: A ruler who is overweight.
* {{Ambadassador}}
* AnarchoTyranny: A corrupt government or tyrannical regime creates a state of AnarchyIsChaos so everyone is too busy fighting each other to worry about them, criminal neglect on a nationwide scale.
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning
* BenevolentDictator
* BenevolentMageRuler
* TheCaligula: A ruler who is insane.
* AChildShallLeadThem
* {{Cincinnatus}}
* CorruptPolitician
* CourtMage
* CourtPhysician
* TheCreon
* DivineRightOfKings
* EasilyElected
* EmergencyAuthority
* TheEmperor
* EmperorScientist
* EvilChancellor
* EvilOverlord
* FeudalOverlord
* FisherKing: A ruler whose very presence causes the land to become the same way they are.
* FounderOfTheKingdom
* TheGeneralissimo
* TheGhostKing
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen
* TheGoodChancellor
* TheGoodKing: A benevolent ruler.
* GovernmentConspiracy
* GovernmentInExile
* TheHighQueen
* IOwnThisTown
* JustTheFirstCitizen: A monarch with a modest title.
* TheKingslayer: Killing a ruler.
* MayorPain: A mayor who is either sketchy or incompetent.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong
* TheNecrocracy
* OfferedTheCrown
* ThePerformerKing
* PermanentElectedOfficial: An elected official who is always in office.
* PointyHairedBoss: An incompetent employer.
* ThePhilosopherKing
* PlanetBaron: The ruler or owner of an entire planet.
* PoliticallyActivePrincess
* PresidentSuperhero
* PrincessesRule
* ThePuppetCutsHisStrings
* PuppetKing
* RecliningReigner
* RegentForLife
* ReluctantRuler
* RoyalFavorite: Their authority is often second only to the monarch, due to the high regard the monarch has for them, regardless of actual position in society.
* RoyallyScrewedUp
* RoyalWe: Royalty addressing themselves with plural pronouns.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: A ruler who doesn't just sit around on the throne giving orders and actually does things to help their people.
* RulerProtagonist
* RulingCouple
* ShadowDictator
* SheIsTheKing: A female ruler is addressed with a title that typically goes to men.
* SkeletonGovernment
* SorcerousOverlord
* SuperCivilServices
* SupernaturalElite
* TyrannicalHomeownersAssociation
* {{Tyrannicide}}
* UltimateAuthorityMayor: The mayor has more power than they would in real life.
* VampireMonarch
* WarriorPrince
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Military Authority]]
* AntiMutiny
* TheBrigadier
* TheCaptain
* ColonelBadass
* CommandingCoolness
* TheConqueror
* DrillSergeantNasty: A military officer who tends to yell at and berate his charges.
* AFatherToHisMen: A leader who is like a father figure to the soldiers he leads.
* FieldPromotion
* FourStarBadass
* FrontlineGeneral
* GeneralFailure: A general who is very incompetent.
* GeneralRipper: A military leader who insanely pursues a vendetta against the enemy.
* MajorlyAwesome
* MookCommander
* TheMutiny
* TheNeidermeyer
* OfficerAndAGentleman
* SergeantRock
* TimeToStepUpCommander
* TheWarlord: A military leader with power and authority beyond legal or official status.
* YouAreInCommandNow
[[/folder]]

[[folder:School Authority]]
* ApatheticTeacher: A teacher who doesn't give a damn how well their students do.
* BadassTeacher
* BigManOnCampus
* CoolTeacher: A teacher who is considered awesome by the students.
* CreepyGymCoach
* DeanBitterman: A school principal who hates everyone.
* EvilPrincipal: A principal who is evil.
* EvilTeacher: A teacher who is evil.
* FiredTeacher
* HippieTeacher
* HotLibrarian
* LoonyLibrarian
* MisplacedKindergartenTeacher
* NonGivingUpSchoolGuy: A person who won't rest until children playing hooky are forced to go class.
* PeerAsTeacher
* PoliticallyMotivatedTeacher
* PsychologistTeacher
* PuttingThePalInPrincipal: A school principal who wants the students to see him as their friend.
* TheQuarterback
* RedArmbandOfLeadership: Red armband signifying prefects or student council members in Japanese schools.
* SadistTeacher: A teacher who enjoys tormenting their students and making things unreasonably hard for them.
* SaveOurStudents
* ScaryLibrarian
* {{Schoolmarm}}
* SternTeacher: A teacher who may be a bit harsh at times, but actually does care about the students and is only being hard on them because they want them to do well.
* YellowSashOfPower: Hall monitors having unreasonable amounts of power.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Subordinates]]
* AloofLeaderAffableSubordinate
* BreakingOutTheBoss: A gang of criminals break their incarcerated boss from prison.
* DesperatelyNeedsOrders
* DitchTheBodyguards
* TheDragon: The villain who is second-in-command to the main villain.
* EliteMooks
* EvilMinions
* FacelessGoons
* IControlMyMinionsThrough
* JustFollowingOrders
* LoyalToThePosition
* MechaMooks: Robotic minions.
* MookLieutenant: The villain's henchmen are led by one who has slightly more depth and difference from the rank-and-file goons.
* {{Mooks}}: The generic underlings of the main villain.
* MoreSeniorSubordinate
* MyMasterRightOrWrong
* NoBadassToHisValet
* NoHeroToHisValet
* ThePawnsGoFirst
* PsychoSupporter
* TheQuisling: Someone betrays the rest of his kind to side with the invading forces.
* SaneBossPsychoHenchmen
* WeakBossStrongUnderlings
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]
* BadassPreacher
* TheCommissionerGordon
* CrankyLandlord
* DeadlyDoctor
* DimensionLord
* DoctorsOrders
* TheDon
* HeroicTeamRevolt
* HighPriest
* InsectQueen
* KingOfBeasts
* KingOfTheHomeless: A leader who rules over homeless people.
* KingOfThieves
* ThePatriarch
* TheQueenpin
* RebelLeader
* RebelliousRebel
* {{Showrunner}}
* WardensAreEvil
[[/folder]]

[[/index]]
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