
Police
Civil disobedience is where people disobey one’s superior. The superiors wield power, which is maintained by their henchmen, the police. A military organization set up to protect their property, or whatever they wish for that to be defined as. Keep it out of the hands of the poor. If you are very successful, you might be able to chop off the king’s head.
Unfortunately, we no longer have such obvious symbols of tyranny. We are now surrounded by the strength of new kings. That can now hide while receiving the same benefits as their predecessors. To maintain their hold, they have created a religion called Economics and placed their priests to prophesy how to save from not making enough money with their voodoo science. Now we all pray to the god of capitalism, supporting the new overlords.
The baton seems to have become the preferred means of communication of governments when questioned by its citizens.