A system of government or society in which the elderly hold the most power, authority, and decision-making roles.
From Greek 'geron' (old man) + 'kratia' (rule, power). Literally means 'rule by the old,' parallel to democracy (rule by the people) and aristocracy (rule by the best-born).
Sparta's Gerousia was a pure gerontocracy—old men could literally veto any law passed by younger officials, making age itself a political veto power, a system no modern country dares copy.
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