ABSTRAK
This research analyzes the power relations of the North America?s legiskatures towards the related institutions and the citizen in a statute which contains the information of the legislatures? compensation. The objective of this research is to explore the use of Critical Discourse Analysis proposed by Fairclough in understanding; 1) the power indicators in the statute of the Legislatures' compensation and the way they construct the power and struggle it linguistically, and 2)To describe the relation drawn between the participants in the text. This research belongs to descriptive qualitative research. The data employed in this research are collected through criterion based sampling, considering the geographical location, and similarity of topic. This research uses document analysis method, therefore the statute of five North America states are chosen. It is aimed to portray the cultural phenomenon happens in the North America. The results of data analysis are divided into three parts; Power Indicator, Power struggle, and relation between participants. In terms of power indicator, the legislatures tend to use medium-high modality to emphasize their power, and duality of modes to differenciate their subject position to the readers. In terms of Power struggle, the legislatures tend to use the transparency expression, and formality expression in terms of convincing. Meanwhile in the case of relation among the participants, the legislatures still earns more power than the other participants. This research is expected to give benefits to other researchers, especially those who are interested to Critical Discourse Analysis approach. This research is also intended to help people to understand the implicit meaning implied in statutes. Keywords: Statute, North America, Critical Discourse Analysis, Power
