Staff authority is best described as which statement?

• A. Possessed by all supervisors who act in an advisory capacity to other supervisors or managers; e.g., gathering and dissemination of intelligence, providing communication services, legal research; not binding; ignore advice.
• B. The primary binding authority to issue orders.
• C. The ability to approve financial expenditures.
• D. The authority to create policy that is binding.

Answer: (A)

Staff authority is advisory in nature, enabling specialists to support decision-makers without the power to command. It involves gathering and sharing information, providing services such as communications or legal research, and offering counsel that is not binding. The described statement fits best because it depicts supervisors acting in an advisory capacity to others, with advice that is not binding and can be ignored. The other descriptions outline powers to issue orders, approve expenditures, or create binding policy—authorities that belong to line management or higher levels rather than staff.