Gemara:

Bava Batra,  Sanhedrin,  Shevuot 

Collections: Rabbi Meth Mini Chabura

References: Shevuot: 15a ,  Sanhedrin: 21b ,  Bava Batra: 129b  

Description

One who creates authority owns that authority. If the president and congress create a supreme court justice, they own that justice's authority. If a prophet appoints a sanhedrin, he would have a degree of ownership over the sanhedrin's authority. Hence, the lack of prophet's authority over sanhedrin may indicate that the prophet does not participate in creating that authority. However, Ritva suggests that only active participation in creating authority grants ownership; passive participation, such as the king's role in sanctifying yerushalayim and the bais hamikdash, does not grant authority. The ramifications of owning authority need further clarification.