key term - Supreme Leader

Definition

A Supreme Leader is the highest-ranking official in a government, who often has control over all branches of government and is not subject to checks and balances. This position is typically found in authoritarian regimes where power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual or a small group.

Related terms

Authoritarianism:

A political system characterized by a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the public.

Checks and Balances:

Mechanisms through which each branch of government can participate in and influence the activities of the other branches as a way to prevent any single branch from gaining too much power.

Power Consolidation: The process of centralizing authority within one leader or group, often seen in political systems where democratic norms are eroded or absent