secular authority
[ˈsɛk.jə.lər ɔːˈθɒr.ə.ti]
noun phrasepl: secular authorities
autoridade secular
1. Power or jurisdiction exercised by government or state institutions rather than religious institutions
The separation of church and state ensures that secular authority remains independent from religious influence.
A separação entre Igreja e Estado garante que a autoridade secular permaneça independente da influência religiosa.
2. The governing power of civil institutions, laws, and officials that are not based on religious doctrine
In modern democracies, secular authority is derived from the consent of the governed.
Nas democracias modernas, a autoridade secular é derivada do consentimento dos governados.
3. Legal and administrative power exercised by state representatives and officials
The king exercised both religious and secular authority over his kingdom.
O rei exercia tanto autoridade religiosa quanto secular sobre seu reino.
The concept of secular authority is fundamental to modern Western political systems, particularly in the United States and Brazil, where constitutional frameworks explicitly separate religious and governmental institutions. This distinction is historically significant in Brazil, a predominantly Catholic country that maintains secular governance, and in the USA, where the First Amendment protects this separation. The term is frequently used in political, legal, and academic discussions about the proper role and limits of government.
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