Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree Practice Exam

The term that best describes a community group's action when they sue a company for health effects from toxic chemicals is legal power. This term captures the ability of individuals or groups to use the legal system to seek justice or change in response to grievances. When a community takes legal action, it is often invoking laws and regulations that protect public health and safety, thereby establishing a form of authority and influence grounded in the legal framework.

In this context, the community group is asserting its rights under the law to address the harmful effects caused by the company's actions. Legal power highlights the reliance on statutory laws and legal precedents in making claims against entities that may have caused harm through negligence or malfeasance.

The options referencing financial leverage, social influence, and economic pressure do relate to different types of power and influence that groups can exert in various contexts, but none specifically capture the formal and direct engagement with the legal system that is involved in filing a lawsuit. Legal power is unique in its focus on the authority and processes of the law.