This paper analyzes authority-use patterns as they relate to the internal organization of a community college. Section 1 presents a hypothetical case study of a community college which practices several unique authority-use variations that are in actual use in two-year colleges around the country. The cluster college scheme, a new strategy for participative management, and management by objectives are presented in Section 2. Section 3 addresses itself to several broader implications of community college organization. All areas of discussion are supplementary by the identification and description of those colleges who have implemented and are practicing the variations set forth. The paper is designed to be a practical guide to viable alternatives verified by organizational practice, thereby being of particular interest to those contemplating organizational restructuring, those planning organizational and authority-use design, and those preparing to enter a community college leadership position. The author proposes that the ideal system is a cluster college with participatory governance based on management by objectives. (Author/AH)