The authority that the principal specifically grants to the agent.

• A. Actual authority
• B. Implied authority
• C. Express authority
• D. Apparent authority

Answer: (C)

Express authority is the explicit permission the principal gives the agent to act on the principal’s behalf, typically outlined in a contract, written directive, or clear oral instruction. This is the authority that is specifically granted and reflected in the agent’s authorized acts.

Implied authority, by contrast, arises from the agent’s duties or the circumstances of the relationship and is not expressly stated. Apparent authority depends on what third parties reasonably believe about the agent’s authority based on the principal’s representations, even if the agent has no actual authority. All actual authority includes express and implied, but the choice here specifically describes the clearly granted, stated permission.