nonelected
Chosen without ballots
Nonelected describes officials or positions not chosen by voters.
A nonelected official holds power through appointment, inheritance, or other means rather than winning an election: The Supreme Court justices are nonelected but wield enormous influence.
The term often appears in discussions about democratic accountability—nonelected bureaucrats making decisions that affect citizens.
Assigned to office
- nominatedFormally proposed for selection
- designatedOfficially selected beforehand
- selectedDeliberately chosen
- chosenSelected from alternatives
handpicked · installed · assigned · delegated · commissioned · tapped · anointed · elevated
Person named to position
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- designeePerson formally named
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
technocrat · administrator · commissioner · director · secretary · undersecretary · deputy · minister
Rule by one
- oligarchyRule by few
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- theocracyRule by religious authority
aristocracy · technocracy · despotism · totalitarianism · junta · plutocracy · tyranny · authoritarianism
Having no voice
- unrepresentedLacking official advocacy
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- excludedShut out, denied entry
- bypassedWent around an obstacle
sidelined · overlooked · powerless · disenfranchised · voteless · silenced · alienated · unheard
appointed
Assigned to office
- nominatedFormally proposed for selection
- designatedOfficially selected beforehand
- selectedDeliberately chosen
chosen · handpicked · installed · assigned · delegated · commissioned · tapped · anointed · elevated · confirmed
appointee
Person named to position
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- designeePerson formally named
official · technocrat · administrator · commissioner · director · secretary · undersecretary · deputy · minister · ambassador
autocracy
Rule by one
- oligarchyRule by few
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
theocracy · aristocracy · technocracy · despotism · totalitarianism · junta · plutocracy · tyranny · authoritarianism · hereditary
voiceless
Having no voice
- unrepresentedLacking official advocacy
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- excludedShut out, denied entry
bypassed · sidelined · overlooked · powerless · disenfranchised · voteless · silenced · alienated · unheard · ignored
nonelectedelected
Chosen by ballot
elective · representative · democratic · candidate · running for office