nonelected

Nonelected is an adjective used to describe persons, offices, or bodies not filled by election. In politics, nonelected officials are those who acquire or hold positions through appointment, hereditary right, or appointment by an authority other than popular vote. Nonelected offices contrast with elected offices, where holders must win an electoral mandate. The term is commonly applied to civil servants, regulatory commissioners, central bank governors, and judges in systems where appointment or tenure is used rather than election. It can also describe heads of state in constitutional monarchies, where the monarch's powers are largely ceremonial and the position is not obtained by election, as well as other independently functioning bodies such as commissions or agencies.

The rationale for nonelected offices often centers on expertise, continuity, or independence from shifting electoral incentives. Proponents argue that appointed or nonpartisan officials can implement policy more consistently and protect impartial decision-making, while critics warn that nonelected power can reduce accountability and enable technocratic overreach or patronage.

In many countries, nonelected roles are complemented by formal mechanisms for oversight and accountability, including parliamentary scrutiny, performance audits, judicial review, and fixed tenure with removal constraints to maintain independence.

See also: appointed, civil service, technocracy, monarchy, judiciary, central bank independence, election.