What does nomism mean?
Nomism names a political arrangement in which those who govern are chosen as nominees or appointees rather than directly elected by the people. A government operating in this way may be administered through a higher office, council, committee, or other appointing authority. The term is mainly used in political theory and historical analysis to draw attention to the distance between voters and the officials who exercise public power. It does not automatically mean that such a system is oligarchical or undemocratic in every particular; rather, it identifies appointment or nomination as the route by which authority is transferred. Although uncommon in everyday speech, nomism is useful for discussing systems of indirect rule, delegated authority, and the relationship between representation and electoral accountability.
nounNomism is the principle or system of government in which officials exercise authority as appointed or nominated representatives rather than as directly elected representatives.
- The principle or practice of governing through appointed or nominated officials rather than through directly elected representatives.
"The author argued that a system of government by nominees threatened the principles of democratic accountability."
"Critics of nomism asked how citizens could hold appointed officials accountable."
"The essay described the proposed electoral reform as a form of nomism."
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely needed because the term is uncommon.
"The study compared several historical nomisms and their systems of appointment."
Nomism puts political power in the hands of appointees: officials chosen by other officials rather than directly by voters.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of nomism
Nomism combines the Greek noun nomos, meaning “law” or “custom,” with the suffix -ism, which forms a noun denoting a principle, doctrine, or practice. The word belongs to a family of English terms built on the same Greek foundation, including nomocracy and nomothetic. It names a particular political system in the same way that other forms of government are identified by their characteristic mechanisms.
Related word forms
How nomism is actually used
This is an uncommon and specialized political term. It usually describes a system of indirect rule or appointment and has a critical or analytical connotation.