check user permissions before moderation votes

bot.py

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 """
-  _____                       __      ___       __ 
- / ___/__  __ _  _______ ____/ /__   / _ )___  / /_
-/ /__/ _ \/  ' \/ __/ _ `/ _  / -_) / _  / _ \/ __/
-\___/\___/_/_/_/_/  \_,_/\_,_/\__/ /____/\___/\__/ 
+  _____                       __   
+ / ___/__  __ _  _______ ____/ /__ 
+/ /__/ _ \/  ' \/ __/ _ `/ _  / -_)
+\___/\___/_/_/_/_/  \_,_/\_,_/\__/ 
 
 A bot by turtlebasket
 """
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ async def ping(ctx):
 @bot.command()
 async def mute(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 
+    await require_lower_permissions(ctx, target_user, bot)
+
     if target_user in muting_users:
         await ctx.send("There is already a mute vote on `{}`!".format(target_user))
         return
@@ -251,6 +253,8 @@ async def mute(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 @bot.command()
 async def kick(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 
+    await require_lower_permissions(ctx, target_user, bot)
+
     if target_user in kicking_users:
         await ctx.send("There is already a kick vote on `{}`!".format(target_user))
         return 
@@ -269,6 +273,8 @@ async def kick(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 @bot.command(aliases=['exile'])
 async def ban(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 
+    await require_lower_permissions(ctx, target_user, bot)
+
     if target_user in banning_users:
         await ctx.send("There is already a ban vote on `{}`!".format(target_user))
         return 
@@ -284,4 +290,9 @@ async def ban(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
 
     banning_users.remove(target_user)
 
+@bot.command()
+async def test(ctx, target_user:discord.User):
+    await require_lower_permissions(ctx, target_user, bot)
+    await ctx.send("success")
+
 bot.run(tokens["bot_token"])

bot_utils.py

@@ -56,8 +56,24 @@ async def take_vote(ctx, question:str, vote_time, min_voters):
     ))
     return passed
 
-async def improper_usage(ctx):
-    await ctx.send("Improper command usage! See `>>help` for more.")
+class CommandBreakerException(Exception):
+    pass
+
+async def error_invalid_usage(ctx):
+    await ctx.send("⚠ `Invalid command usage! See `>>help` for more.`")
+
+async def error_admin_targeted(ctx):
+    await ctx.send("⚠ `Cannot perform this action on adminstrators or users with a higher or equal role.`")
+
+async def require_lower_permissions(ctx, user:discord.User, bot:discord.ext.commands.Bot):
+    memb = await ctx.guild.fetch_member(user.id)
+    bot_memb = await ctx.guild.fetch_member(bot.user.id)
+    is_admin = memb.permissions_in(ctx.channel).administrator
+    is_higher = memb.top_role.position >= bot_memb.top_role.position
+
+    if is_admin or is_higher:
+        await error_admin_targeted(ctx)
+        raise CommandBreakerException
 
 def imgfun(msg:str, img_url:str):
     return discord.Embed(