Gerontocracy is a system in which political power is concentrated in the hands of older people, especially when leaders remain in office for very long periods and the average age of decision-makers is much higher than that of the general population. The word comes from the Greek geron ("old man") and kratos ("rule" or "power").
A democracy, by contrast, is government by the people through free elections. A democracy can become gerontocratic if voters repeatedly elect older leaders or if institutions make it difficult for younger generations to gain representation.
So, one could argue that the United States shows some characteristics of a gerontocracy, given the advanced ages of many senior elected officials and judges.
A few examples of judges and lawmakers who have clung to power for too long include RBG, Joe Biden, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Sen. Mitch McConnell.
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