In this chapter I argue that given modern conditions of politics a coercive authority is a sine qua non in the evaluation and meeting of needs as proposed in this political philosophy of needs. I argue that the modern state has the potential to be this authority but only if it institutionalises successfully a particular kind of need-based and institution-directed dynamic approach to constant transformation. This kind of political authority would instantiate the sort of need-disclosing procedures and goals outlined here, and constantly transform itself in line with these procedures and goals. I call this kind of transforming, need-disclosing authority a ‘state of needs’. Were a modern state to become a state of needs it would become a radically new kind of political authority. This is the case because some of the need-disclosing procedures and goals, for example individual participation in the everyday evaluation of needs and institutions, require fundamental transformations, as will be discussed below. I propose an understanding of this radically new form of coercive authority, the state of needs, in terms of the disclosure, evaluation and transformation of needs, true interests, institutions and need trajectories. Recall that need trajectories are the various different actual and possible paths or trajectories down which the development of needs can progress.