FOR EXAMPLE If you by yourself chose to listen to say Joe Rogan as an authority in your life that's a legitimate authority because you individually chose it. Illegitimate authority is authority you did not chose. We were born into a system where we have no control over who makes decisions for us that makes the authority of the government illegitimate because all governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. Without the consent of the governed the governments themselves cease to be legitimate.

If you by yourself chose to listen to say Joe Rogan as an authority in your life that's a legitimate authority because you individually chose it. Illegitimate authority is authority you did not chose. We were born into a system where we have no control over who makes decisions for us that makes the authority of the government illegitimate because all governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. Without the consent of the governed the governments themselves cease to be legitimate.