Aim: to analyze the behavior of variables associated with the effective management of the authority on teachers. Method: a descriptive study with cross-sectional and quantitative components. Eight teachers belonging to one secondary education institution and one university, considered by their students as those with effective management of authority, were selected through a survey. In total, 69 students and 8 teachers were interviewed. Results: Teachers with effective management of the authority base their power mainly in strength and wealth, and they use the four functions of power to some extent: prescription, regulation, supervision, and administration. Apparently, authority features such as affinity and charisma, or the difficulty of the subject do not relate to the effective exercise of authority by teachers. These and other variables are analyzed concerning the functions of power, in relation to earlier investigations.