Abstract: In a method for setting the output power of an internal combustion engine a resultant specified torque is determined from a driver-intended torque and at least tw o additional intended torques, and the resultant specified torque is set via a apparatus for adjusting torque. Each participant system, in addition to the intended torque, provides information regarding whether the intended constitutes a torque-increase or a torque-decrease. A processing block is provided for each participant system in which the particular intended torque is compared with the driver-intended torque and the resulting specified torque of the preceding participant system. From this, a resulting specified torque is determined. The priority of the particular torque requirement results from the sequence of the participant systems during processing.