Configuring system-wide settings without typing the root password

[BFD]

I keep getting a dialog box popping up saying:

    "You're currently authorized to configure system-wide settings (that 
affect all users) without typing the administrator password again. You 
can give up this authorization."

Where is this coming from?. Everything I've ever done as root was only 
after I used the su command to change to it.

BFD