First, it may appear as if the legitimacy of an authority rests on its greater expertise.

In one recent article, for example, Mr. Abdi argued that the legitimacy of the government rested in its being elected by the people - not in its being religious.

But the Saud dynasty gained its control over much of the Arabian Peninsula via adherents to the Wahhabi teachings, and its legitimacy rests on maintaining their support.

Indeed, King Fahd's very legitimacy rests on his role as the Sherif of Mecca, protector of Islam's holiest place.

What will be the impact of such a defeat on a government whose legitimacy rests so heavily on the invincibility of the Red Army?

Finally, because Mr. Arafat's legitimacy at home rested in part on his influence abroad, the American move to isolate him aided his domestic critics.

Its legitimacy rests on its position as protector of the two holy places of Mecca and Medina and the interrelationship of the royal family with the ranking religious leaders.

Democratic constitutions universally state the principle of popular sovereignty and their legitimacy now rests on popular enactment.

The attack on Iraq will be justified with a resolution whose legitimacy rests on Article 51 of the charter.

That is because the legitimacy of the whole Union rests very much on the image that people get from our work - the very people who directly elect us.