Final answer:
In US political life, rational-legal authority plays a larger role than traditional authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traditional authority and rational-legal authority are two types of authority defined by sociologist Max Weber. Traditional authority is based on long-established customs and traditions, while rational-legal authority is based on laws and regulations. In US political life, rational-legal authority plays a larger role than traditional authority. The United States is a modern representative democracy where power is vested in elected individuals who hold positions within the government based on the legitimacy of the office itself and the laws they uphold.