Line authority is best described as:

• A. The authority to advise and support line managers.
• B. The ability to influence without formal power.
• C. Direct authority to make decisions and give orders down the chain of command.
• D. The power to approve all budgets.

Answer: (C)

Line authority is the formal power granted by a position to make decisions and issue orders to subordinates who directly report to that position, guiding day-to-day work along the line of authority. This downward command structure lets a manager determine who does what, when, and how, within the core operations of the organization. It differs from advisory or staff authority, which exists to inform and support line managers without commanding their subordinates, and from informal influence, which comes from personality or expertise rather than a formal role. While budgeting duties can be part of a manager’s responsibilities, the essence of line authority is the direct ability to decide and command actions in the chain of command.