unelected
Never faced voters
Unelected describes someone holding power or authority without having won an election: unelected bureaucrats, unelected judges.
The term often carries a note of criticism, implying that power exercised without a popular mandate is less legitimate: Unelected officials are making decisions that affect millions of people.
Rule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- autocracyRule by one
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
despotism · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · dictatorship · theocracy · junta · regime · elite
Assigned to office
- nominatedFormally proposed for selection
- appointeePerson named to position
- designationFormal name or title
- incumbentCurrent position holder
successor · predecessor · tenure · patronage · placeman · cronyism · delegate · representative
One who maintains property
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- temporaryLimited in duration
- actingTemporarily holding position
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
transitional · placeholder · interregnum · stand-in · ad-hoc · makeshift · expedient · fill-in
Deprived of voting rights
- voicelessHaving no voice
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- disqualifiedDeclared unfit to compete
- barredBlocked from entry
sidelined · unrepresented · powerless · ignored · bypassed · disempowered · unheard · silenced
Rule by crowned sovereign
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- successionFollowing in order
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
birthright · nobility · royalty · lineage · bloodline · throne · coronation · regency
oligarchy
Rule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- autocracyRule by one
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
tyranny · despotism · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · dictatorship · theocracy · junta · regime · elite · establishment
appointed
Assigned to office
- nominatedFormally proposed for selection
- appointeePerson named to position
- designationFormal name or title
incumbent · successor · predecessor · tenure · patronage · placeman · cronyism · delegate · representative · trustee
caretaker
One who maintains property
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- temporaryLimited in duration
- actingTemporarily holding position
stopgap · transitional · placeholder · interregnum · stand-in · ad-hoc · makeshift · expedient · fill-in · substitute
disenfranchised
Deprived of voting rights
- voicelessHaving no voice
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- disqualifiedDeclared unfit to compete
barred · sidelined · unrepresented · powerless · ignored · bypassed · disempowered · unheard · silenced · grassroots
monarchy
Rule by crowned sovereign
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- successionFollowing in order
inheritance · birthright · nobility · royalty · lineage · bloodline · throne · coronation · regency · sovereign
unelectedelected
Chosen by ballot
democratic · re-elected · representative · accountable · reelected