These fictional scenarios explain authority. They are not case studies, validated assessments, or evidence of governance outcomes.
Artificial intelligence
A public agency is considering AI to help review applications for public services.
Agenda-Setting Capacity
The ability to determine what is discussed.
Authority begins before a decision is made, with the power to determine which matters receive formal consideration.
- Symbolic representation
- Numerical presence
- Decision-making authority
- The ability to place a matter on the agenda.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the governing board has the right to place the proposed AI use and access to human review on the formal agenda. She can require discussion of what happens when an application is incorrectly flagged.
Relevant records
Board agenda rules, proposal rights, and minutes recording consideration of AI use and human review.
Negotiation Access
The authority to shape agreement terms.
Negotiation Access concerns the ability to shape the terms while an agreement is being developed.
- Symbolic representation
- Consultative role
- Decision-making authority
- Standing to negotiate the terms of an agreement.
Fictional scenario
A woman holds a mandate to negotiate the AI supplier agreement. She can propose and negotiate terms for access to system records and correction of errors before the agency signs. Those terms affect how an applicant’s disputed result can be investigated.
Relevant records
Negotiating mandates, supplier contract drafts, and revision records covering audit access and error correction.
Design Authority
The power to shape institutional architecture.
Design Authority concerns who can shape the rules, roles, and procedures through which an institution governs.
- Symbolic representation
- Quota compliance
- Decision-making authority
- Power to shape the institution’s governing rules.
Fictional scenario
Women have authority to draft and amend the agency’s AI governance rules, including who approves deployment, who can suspend use, and how applicants request human review. This concerns the rules governing the system, beyond the technical design of the model.
Relevant records
AI governance rules, drafting and amendment mandates, deployment approval procedures, and human-review procedures.
Implementation Authority
The ability to govern execution.
Implementation Authority concerns who has authority to put a decision into practice and direct its execution.
- Symbolic representation
- Visibility
- Decision-making authority
- Authority to govern how a decision is carried out.
Fictional scenario
A woman directs the approved AI rollout and its resources. She can assign staff to review disputed results and pause deployment when agreed conditions are unmet. Her mandate concerns how the service actually operates for applicants.
Relevant records
Delegated rollout responsibilities, staffing and budget authorizations, and suspension powers.
Oversight Standing
The capacity to hold institutions accountable.
Oversight Standing concerns who can examine institutional action and hold those exercising authority accountable.
- Symbolic representation
- Nominal standing
- Decision-making authority
- Capacity to scrutinize decisions and require accountability.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the oversight body can obtain AI decision records, require explanations from responsible officials, and require corrective action within her mandate. An applicant’s complaint can trigger scrutiny of both the system and the people accountable for its use.
Relevant records
Oversight mandates, access rights to system and decision records, complaint procedures, and corrective-action powers.
Healthcare
A hospital is redesigning access to outpatient appointments.
Agenda-Setting Capacity
The ability to determine what is discussed.
Authority begins before a decision is made, with the power to determine which matters receive formal consideration.
- Symbolic representation
- Numerical presence
- Decision-making authority
- The ability to place a matter on the agenda.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the hospital board can place long appointment waits on its formal agenda. She determines whether delays faced by patients receive consideration.
Relevant records
Board agenda rules and proposal records concerning appointment access.
Negotiation Access
The authority to shape agreement terms.
Negotiation Access concerns the ability to shape the terms while an agreement is being developed.
- Symbolic representation
- Consultative role
- Decision-making authority
- Standing to negotiate the terms of an agreement.
Fictional scenario
A woman is authorized to negotiate the new appointment-service agreement, including opening hours and staffing commitments. These terms affect when patients can attend.
Relevant records
Negotiating mandates and draft service and staffing agreements.
Design Authority
The power to shape institutional architecture.
Design Authority concerns who can shape the rules, roles, and procedures through which an institution governs.
- Symbolic representation
- Quota compliance
- Decision-making authority
- Power to shape the institution’s governing rules.
Fictional scenario
Women can draft and amend the rules assigning responsibility for appointment access and complaints. They shape who approves changes and who must respond when a patient cannot obtain an appointment.
Relevant records
Rule-making mandates, approval procedures, and complaint responsibilities.
Implementation Authority
The ability to govern execution.
Implementation Authority concerns who has authority to put a decision into practice and direct its execution.
- Symbolic representation
- Visibility
- Decision-making authority
- Authority to govern how a decision is carried out.
Fictional scenario
A woman directs the budget and staffing for the agreed appointment service. She governs the work needed to put the approved schedule into operation.
Relevant records
Budget authorizations, staffing mandates, and execution plans.
Oversight Standing
The capacity to hold institutions accountable.
Oversight Standing concerns who can examine institutional action and hold those exercising authority accountable.
- Symbolic representation
- Nominal standing
- Decision-making authority
- Capacity to scrutinize decisions and require accountability.
Fictional scenario
A woman with oversight authority can examine waiting-time records and require hospital managers to account for missed commitments. Patients’ reports can enter an authorized review.
Relevant records
Review mandates, access to appointment records, and accountability procedures.
Education
A school district is revising access to after-school learning.
Agenda-Setting Capacity
The ability to determine what is discussed.
Authority begins before a decision is made, with the power to determine which matters receive formal consideration.
- Symbolic representation
- Numerical presence
- Decision-making authority
- The ability to place a matter on the agenda.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the district board can place after-school access on the formal agenda. Families’ difficulty arranging learning and care after school can receive consideration.
Relevant records
District agenda rules, proposal rights, and meeting records.
Negotiation Access
The authority to shape agreement terms.
Negotiation Access concerns the ability to shape the terms while an agreement is being developed.
- Symbolic representation
- Consultative role
- Decision-making authority
- Standing to negotiate the terms of an agreement.
Fictional scenario
A woman has standing to negotiate program hours, charges, and transport terms with providers. These terms affect which families can use the program.
Relevant records
Negotiating mandates and draft provider agreements.
Design Authority
The power to shape institutional architecture.
Design Authority concerns who can shape the rules, roles, and procedures through which an institution governs.
- Symbolic representation
- Quota compliance
- Decision-making authority
- Power to shape the institution’s governing rules.
Fictional scenario
Women can draft and amend the rules for program approval, allocation of places, and appeals. They shape who decides and how families can challenge a decision.
Relevant records
Drafting mandates, allocation rules, and appeal procedures.
Implementation Authority
The ability to govern execution.
Implementation Authority concerns who has authority to put a decision into practice and direct its execution.
- Symbolic representation
- Visibility
- Decision-making authority
- Authority to govern how a decision is carried out.
Fictional scenario
A woman directs the approved program budget, staffing, and launch. She governs the resources needed for students to attend.
Relevant records
Program budgets, staffing authorizations, and delegated responsibilities.
Oversight Standing
The capacity to hold institutions accountable.
Oversight Standing concerns who can examine institutional action and hold those exercising authority accountable.
- Symbolic representation
- Nominal standing
- Decision-making authority
- Capacity to scrutinize decisions and require accountability.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the oversight body can obtain attendance and allocation records and require officials to explain failures to deliver the agreed program. Families’ complaints can enter a formal review.
Relevant records
Oversight mandates, program records, and complaint-review procedures.
Workplace governance
An employer is changing how shifts are scheduled.
Agenda-Setting Capacity
The ability to determine what is discussed.
Authority begins before a decision is made, with the power to determine which matters receive formal consideration.
- Symbolic representation
- Numerical presence
- Decision-making authority
- The ability to place a matter on the agenda.
Fictional scenario
A woman on the governing committee can place unpredictable shifts on the decision agenda. Workers’ difficulty arranging childcare or study can receive formal consideration.
Relevant records
Committee agenda rules, proposal rights, and meeting minutes.
Negotiation Access
The authority to shape agreement terms.
Negotiation Access concerns the ability to shape the terms while an agreement is being developed.
- Symbolic representation
- Consultative role
- Decision-making authority
- Standing to negotiate the terms of an agreement.
Fictional scenario
A woman has a mandate to negotiate shift notice periods and schedule-change terms. Those terms affect how much notice workers receive before their hours change.
Relevant records
Negotiating mandates and draft scheduling agreements.
Design Authority
The power to shape institutional architecture.
Design Authority concerns who can shape the rules, roles, and procedures through which an institution governs.
- Symbolic representation
- Quota compliance
- Decision-making authority
- Power to shape the institution’s governing rules.
Fictional scenario
Women can draft and amend the rules assigning scheduling authority and handling disputed changes. They shape who approves exceptions and how workers can challenge them.
Relevant records
Policy drafting rights, approval rules, and dispute procedures.
Implementation Authority
The ability to govern execution.
Implementation Authority concerns who has authority to put a decision into practice and direct its execution.
- Symbolic representation
- Visibility
- Decision-making authority
- Authority to govern how a decision is carried out.
Fictional scenario
A woman directs the staffing and resources required to put the agreed scheduling policy into practice. She governs its execution across teams.
Relevant records
Delegated management responsibilities and staffing authorizations.
Oversight Standing
The capacity to hold institutions accountable.
Oversight Standing concerns who can examine institutional action and hold those exercising authority accountable.
- Symbolic representation
- Nominal standing
- Decision-making authority
- Capacity to scrutinize decisions and require accountability.
Fictional scenario
A woman with oversight standing can inspect scheduling records and require managers to account for departures from the agreement. Workers’ complaints can be investigated through an authorized process.
Relevant records
Review mandates, scheduling records, and corrective-action procedures.
Local government
A council is considering changes to local transport.
Agenda-Setting Capacity
The ability to determine what is discussed.
Authority begins before a decision is made, with the power to determine which matters receive formal consideration.
- Symbolic representation
- Numerical presence
- Decision-making authority
- The ability to place a matter on the agenda.
Fictional scenario
In this illustrative example, a council is considering local transport. A woman on the council can place evening service on the agenda for formal consideration. That is Agenda-Setting Capacity: determining whether a service used by people returning from work or study is discussed.
Relevant records
Agenda rules, proposal rights, and meeting records.
Negotiation Access
The authority to shape agreement terms.
Negotiation Access concerns the ability to shape the terms while an agreement is being developed.
- Symbolic representation
- Consultative role
- Decision-making authority
- Standing to negotiate the terms of an agreement.
Fictional scenario
In the same illustrative example, a woman has standing to negotiate the proposed transport agreement. She can seek revisions to service hours and fares before the terms are finalized. Those terms determine when residents can travel and what they pay.
Relevant records
Negotiating mandates, draft agreements, and records of proposed revisions.
Design Authority
The power to shape institutional architecture.
Design Authority concerns who can shape the rules, roles, and procedures through which an institution governs.
- Symbolic representation
- Quota compliance
- Decision-making authority
- Power to shape the institution’s governing rules.
Fictional scenario
In the same illustrative example, women hold authority to draft and amend the rules for transport decisions. Those rules determine how service changes are approved and how residents can challenge them.
Relevant records
Drafting mandates, amendment procedures, and governing documents.
Implementation Authority
The ability to govern execution.
Implementation Authority concerns who has authority to put a decision into practice and direct its execution.
- Symbolic representation
- Visibility
- Decision-making authority
- Authority to govern how a decision is carried out.
Fictional scenario
In the same illustrative example, a woman has authority to direct the resources and work needed to put the agreed transport service into operation. Implementation Authority concerns execution of the service residents are waiting to use.
Relevant records
Execution mandates, delegated responsibilities, and resource authorizations.
Oversight Standing
The capacity to hold institutions accountable.
Oversight Standing concerns who can examine institutional action and hold those exercising authority accountable.
- Symbolic representation
- Nominal standing
- Decision-making authority
- Capacity to scrutinize decisions and require accountability.
Fictional scenario
In the same illustrative example, a woman has standing to examine service records and require officials to account for missed commitments. Residents’ reports of cancelled services can then be examined through an authorized review.
Relevant records
Review mandates, access to records, and accountability procedures.
