Você usa uma tabela de junção:role_id e permission_id para identificar quais permissões estão associadas a quais funções
EDITAR:
Tabelas de exemplo
Tabela ROLE
Role_ID Role_Name
1 Standard User
2 Super User
3 Guest
Tabela de PERMISSÃO
Permission_ID Permission_Name
1 View User List
2 Update Own User Account
3 Update Any User Account
Tabela ROLE_PERMISSION
Role_ID Permission_ID
1 1 // Role 1 (Standard User) grants View User List
1 2 // and Update Own User Account
2 1 // Role 2 (Super User) grants View User List,
2 2 // Update Own User Account,
2 3 // and Update Any User Account
3 1 // Role 3 (Guest) grants View User List
Listando as permissões para um Role_ID especificado
select R.role_id,
P.permission_id,
P.permission_name
from role R,
permission P,
role_permission RP
where RP.permission_id = P.permission_id
and RP.role_id = R.role_id
and R.role_id = 1
