authority and linage

During the discussion in class on Tuesday I started to think who does have more authority in my family, my mom or my dad? This is what I came up with; my mom is always there to enforce rules, there's never really any break. My dad likes to be a little more lenient but when we do get in trouble with him, its a big deal and there's no going back. Because of this I feel that my siblings and I listen to my dad more than my  mom because we take my dads punishment a little more serious. But I know my mom tries to work on easing up a little, but I pretty sure the maternal instincts just kick in and in the end she just wants the best for us.