shadow government
Secret power structure
A shadow government is a group that wields real power behind official leadership, or a parallel structure ready to assume control.
In parliamentary systems, the shadow cabinet is the opposition party's team of spokespersons who would take ministerial positions if their party won power.
In conspiracy theories, a shadow government is a hidden cabal secretly controlling elected officials: The deep state is just another name for the shadow government.
Covert governmental power structure
- cabalScheming political faction
- IlluminatiAlleged secret elite
- puppeteersControllers of jointed figures
- hidden agendaUndisclosed true purpose
power brokers · Skull and Bones · secret society · black ops · covert operations · manipulation · cover-up · rogue agents
Active resistance or dissent
- loyal oppositionPrincipled dissent within system
- criticsThose who evaluate work
- backbenchersOrdinary members of parliament
- frontbenchSenior legislators' seating area
spokesperson · portfolio · counterpart · alternative · watchdog · oversight · scrutiny · accountability
Conditional and possibly temporary
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- chain of commandFormal authority hierarchy
- standbyReady substitute awaiting use
deep state
Covert governmental power structure
- cabalScheming political faction
- IlluminatiAlleged secret elite
- puppeteersControllers of jointed figures
hidden agenda · power brokers · Skull and Bones · secret society · black ops · covert operations · manipulation · cover-up · rogue agents · conspirators
opposition
Active resistance or dissent
- loyal oppositionPrincipled dissent within system
- criticsThose who evaluate work
- backbenchersOrdinary members of parliament
frontbench · spokesperson · portfolio · counterpart · alternative · watchdog · oversight · scrutiny · accountability · debate
provisional
Conditional and possibly temporary
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- chain of commandFormal authority hierarchy
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Conspiraciesconspiracy, deep state, new world order, chemtrails, flat earth
- political intrigueintrigue, conspiracy, treason, plot, collusion
- political oppositionopposition party, opposition leader, minority party, minority leader, loyal opposition
- secret networkssecret societies, cabals, cells, hidden networks, criminal networks
- secret organizationscabal, secret society, secret societies, conspiracy, spy network
shadow governmentconstitutional government
Regime bound by charter
open government · lawful authority · public administration · democratic government
shadow, government, shadowy, governor, governing, overshadow, governance, shadowed, shadowing