Hannah Arendt on political power and support of the people

Power corresponds to the human ability not just to act but to act in concert.  Power is never the property of an individual; it belongs to a group and remains in existence only so long as the group keeps together.  When we say of somebody that he is 'in power' we actually refer to his being empowered by a certain number of people to act in their name.  The moment the group, from which the power originated to begin with ... disappears, 'his power' also vanishes. 

~ Hannah Arendt, On Violence

1970