power that outlives the person holding it, because the building was built to keep working without them.
means the authority vested in an organization or system rather than an individual, which is why the office keeps its grip even after the officeholder is gone.
from the term crystallized in 20th-century sociology, especially max weber's writing on bureaucracy, to distinguish authority baked into roles and rules from the raw charisma or force of a single leader.
the federal reserve — moves trillions without a single elected vote, since 1913
the catholic church — outlasted the roman empire that once persecuted it
the supreme court — nine unelected justices can overrule a sitting president
the british monarchy — queen dies, king crowned, government never pauses