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Wiki MarkupTo have moral (= deontic, executive) authority is to have an office or position defined or constituted by certain responsibilities and rights \ -\- namely, those involving making decisions that obligate others, at least _prima facie_, to comply with them, regardless of what their personal decisions about the matters would otherwise have been. In the nature of the case, the voice of moral authority is at least _prima facie_ overriding for those subject to or obligated by the authority. Furthermore, the authority, or some other agency whose function it is, has the right and the responsibility to enforce \ [_sic_\] compliance with its decisions. Such is the case with the parent, the teacher, the foreman, the policeman, the judge, the legislative body, the head of state, and so on.

All such officials hold offices defined or constituted by responsibilities and rights that involve making decisions that certain others have prima facie overriding obligations to accept and to act on. Moreover, in cases of inexcusable disobedience, the authority in question or some other agency has not only the right but also the responsibility to impose penalties. Such penalties serve two functions. The first is educational, in that they make clear the importance of compliance. The second is to give the person who is insensitive to other considerations a reason that will move her or him to comply. There are compelling reasons for compliance, and the authority or some associated agency has the responsibility for enforcing it.

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