Elected vs Appointed Officials

The cluster debates whether key government roles like ministers, cabinet secretaries, and bureaucrats are elected by the public or appointed by elected politicians, often referencing US Senate confirmations and political appointees.

➡️ Stable 0.8x Politics & Society
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Keywords

AFAIK US SecState McGarvie WH SCOTUS PM en.m GS UK elected appointed president secretary senate government branch olive military governor

Sample Comments

orwin Oct 16, 2023 View on HN

Your ministers are appointed, no?

malermeister Oct 11, 2023 View on HN

Isn't this the same as like a secretary in the US, appointed by an elected government official?

drexlspivey Dec 14, 2021 View on HN

Ministers get appointed not elected

eli Oct 31, 2022 View on HN

This is needlessly pedantic. They are appointed by politicians.

jgross206 Mar 4, 2013 View on HN

does it matter what his title is? he's appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

officialchicken Oct 12, 2018 View on HN

We don't choose administrators of government, only the symbolic representatives. The actual administrators are most often politically connected "appointees" not "employees". Which is a completely different merit and vetting process than we normally consider in terms of employment.

nailer Feb 19, 2025 View on HN

My understanding is that politicians are elected whereas bureaucrats are not.

wffurr Sep 6, 2018 View on HN

A political appointee! Even better!

The president and vice president (executive branch) are elected officials.

airstrike May 23, 2023 View on HN

Sorry, I meant bureaucrat, not politician necessarily. Still appointed by a politician, though