It has vast power over our thoughts and life decisions.
Just saying that Senator Ashcroft will enforce and respect existing law ignores the reality that the attorney general has vast power and discretion to shape legal policy in the federal judiciary unhindered by any devotion to existing law.
Wal-Mart, as a large buyer of manufactured goods, has vast power over its suppliers and can force them to lower prices.
The bureau will have vast powers to write and enforce new rules, and Treasury aides have already begun administrative work to get the bureau running.
That position, however, is only one of a half-dozen unfilled presidentially appointed posts that have vast powers over the mortgage market, financial stability and the banking and insurance industries.
Before 1812, while Illinois had a first-grade territorial status, Edwards had vast powers to appoint county and local officials; however, he made it his practice to consider local opinion as much as he could when making appointments, often giving weight to petitions signed by local residents.
But the new man is unlikely to take dictation from Mr Obasanjo, even if the outgoing president does manage to exert a lingering influence.One big problem for Mr Yar'Adua, if he is truly keen to tackle poverty, is that the 36 new state governors, who have vast power, have even less incentive than their predecessors to stop looting their state treasuries.
This means that approximately 50% of the U.S. attorney offices - which have vast power over civil and criminal litigation in their districts - are still controlled by Bush appointees who survived its reputed internal political purge in 2006, and last November's landslide Democratic election victory based on the theme of "change".
The island also conceals an artifact called the Demon Crown, which has vast magical powers.
