power base
Source of influence
A power base is the foundation of support from which a person or group derives influence and authority.
It may consist of loyal followers, financial resources, institutional positions, or geographic strongholds: The senator's power base lies in the rural counties.
Politicians cultivate power bases; losing them often means losing office.
The term extends beyond politics to any sphere where influence must be maintained: She built her power base in the marketing department before making her move.
Temporary alliance for action
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- caucusParty selection meeting
faction · electorate · bloc · partisanship · platform · campaign · endorsement · incumbency
Fortified place of defense
- heartlandCentral region of significance
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
- sphere of influenceZone of dominant authority
- domainArea of control
region · district · fiefdom · turf · enclave · bastion · homeland · jurisdiction
Underlying support structure
- backingAid or sponsorship
- followingComing after another
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
supporters · allies · network · clientele · rank and file · cadre · faithful · mobilization
Formal authoritative directive
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- consentVoluntary agreement given
endorsement · recognition · validation · electoral mandate · constitutional authority
Ranked authority structure
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
- apparatusEquipment for a task
establishment · infrastructure · organization · chain of command · headquarters · secretariat · officialdom · directorate
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
caucus · faction · electorate · bloc · partisanship · platform · campaign · endorsement · incumbency · opposition
stronghold
Fortified place of defense
- heartlandCentral region of significance
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
- sphere of influenceZone of dominant authority
domain · region · district · fiefdom · turf · enclave · bastion · homeland · jurisdiction · seat
foundation
Underlying support structure
allegiance · supporters · allies · network · clientele · rank and file · cadre · faithful · mobilization · outreach
mandate
Formal authoritative directive
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
consent · endorsement · recognition · validation · electoral mandate · constitutional authority
hierarchy
Ranked authority structure
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
apparatus · establishment · infrastructure · organization · chain of command · headquarters · secretariat · apparatus · officialdom · directorate
- powerauthority, potency, energy, hydropower, horsepower
- blendersblender, countertop blender, immersion blender, hand blender, stick blender
- influenceinfluence, persuasion, sway, clout, leverage
- wheelchairsmanual wheelchair, electric wheelchair, motorized wheelchair, transport chair, standing wheelchair
- basessodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lye, caustic soda, magnesium hydroxide
- central controlnerve center, control center, command center, headquarters, hub
power basepowerlessness
Inability to affect outcomes
weakness · marginalization · political vacuum · vulnerability · impotence
base, power, basic, powerful, basis, basement, empower, powerless, powers