The many levels of authority

The Commonwealth of Virginia gives the defined role of parent certain authority over a related role identified as child, specifically the child who has a certain biological or legal relationship to the parent. �I satisfy the definition of parent and so I can assume the authority over the children with whom I have the defined relationship. �The public school system under certain circumstances assumes some of that authority with respect to my children but they do not replace me in the role of parent. �I may delegate some of my authority, say to a child care provider, but I do not transfer my role and can only delegate that authority which the Commonwealth of Virginia says I can delegate. �So certain elements of sex education cannot be delegated to the school system.

[Note the difference between the office (role) of the President and the powers (authority) of the President was very gray territory until a recent amendment. �So if the President was temporarily incapacitated, what aspects of the Presidency would the Vice President assume or exercise. �Historically, the VP did nothing because it was unclear whether the VP assumed the office or just temporary power, and if assumed, there was no process for giving it back.]

There are also parallel chains of authority. �The obvious one today is whether the Geneva Conventions apply or take precedence over authority to engage in activities authorized by the US government. �It is obviously an art form to carefully acknowledge that set of authorities that justify the actions one believes are desirable or necessary.

Now I believe all this is relevant but I'm not sure how it all shows up in our models.

Ken

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Ken Laskey

MITRE Corporation, M/S H305 � � phone:� 703-983-7934

7515 Colshire Drive� � � � � � � � � � � � fax:� � � � 703-983-1379

McLean VA 22102-7508

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