The formal line of authority from top to bottom in an organization is called?

• A. Chain of Command
• B. Unity of Command
• C. Span of Control
• D. Division of Labor

Answer: (A)

The formal line of authority is the chain of command. This structure shows who has authority, who reports to whom, and how orders and information flow from the top down. In firefighting, a clear chain of command keeps decisions at the appropriate level, ensures accountability, and prevents confusion during emergencies. Unity of command means each person reports to a single supervisor, which supports the chain of command but isn’t the overall line of authority itself. Span of control refers to how many subordinates a supervisor can effectively manage, and division of labor is about dividing work into specialized tasks. So the correct concept describing the top-to-bottom authority is the chain of command.