Obrigkeiten

Obrigkeiten is a German term referring to the authorities or governing powers in a state or society. It denotes the organs and persons authorized to exercise public power, either collectively as the state or individually as government ministries, police, courts, and other public institutions. The term is often used to discuss the access, exercise, and limits of public authority, and it is typically contrasted with individuals or groups without formal power, such as citizens or subjects.

In legal and political discourse, the Obrigkeit/Obrigkeit can mean the central authority and its subordinate agencies; in constitutional contexts it is understood as the state and its organs acting under the law.

Historically and in religious contexts, the word has broader usage: in Christian theology, 'die Obrigkeit' denotes the authorities placed by God to govern society, as mentioned in Romans 13; in historical German-speaking societies, 'Obrigkeit' referred to the hierarchical ruling class, including rulers and imperial or princely administrations.

In contemporary German, 'Obrigkeiten' is relatively formal and can carry an archaic or pejorative tone when used by critics who want to emphasize coercive power or bureaucratic authority. In everyday language, words like Behörden, Staat, or Regierung are more common.