Staff of Authority: Difference between revisions

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A [['''Staff of Authority]]''', also know as a staff of office, is a staff or rod which often denotes an official's position, a social rank or a degree of social prestige. Staffs, scepters, batons, swagger sticks, pace sticks, riding crops (when used like a swagger stick instead of for riding), ceremonial maces, and crosiers are all but a few examples. Canes would also sometimes qualify if they are used to indicate a specific office or profession.

A [[Magic Staff]] sometimes doubles as a [['''Staff of Authority]]'''. Staffs used mainly for combat purposes that are not intended as a mark of authority would be a [[Simple Staff]]. Maces designed for fighting rather than display could fall under [[Carry a Big Stick]]. However, there can be overlap in these tropes. A staff, rod or mace can have magical or fighting uses and still be a [['''Staff of Authority]]''', but only if it is also a symbol of authority, rank or position. A [['''Staff of Authority]]''' in the hands of royalty would also be a part of [[Requisite Royal Regalia]].

* About 50% of ''[[Power Rangers]]'' [[Big Bad|Big Bads]]s. Most can fire energy blasts, and cast spells if you're a magic-based villain (or even if not. Sometimes, how "point, zap, and something happens" works isn't always addressed.) The last few series have lacked it, though.

** The [[wikipedia:Baton (symbol)|Third Reich]] turned the [[Staff of Authority]] into the [[Bling of War]].

* The [[wikipedia:Ceremonial mace#Official maces in the British Isles|ceremonial mace]] is common in most English-speaking legislatures; the UK parliament at Westminster started the tradition (the Mace of the House of Commons -- CromwellCommons—Cromwell apparently asked for 'that fool's bauble' to be removed as he angrily dismissed the Rump in 1653, but it didn't take), and the new devolved Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly both have very cool-looking, postmodern maces. The Australian House of Representatives and various other Commonwealth legislatures also have maces. Even the United States House of Representatives has [[wikipedia:Mace of the United States House of Representatives|a mace]]: thirteen ebony rods bound with silver (echoing the ''fasces'' of the Roman Republic) topped with a silver eagle on a globe; this is a subversion, because the US is, of course, a republic, with no king.