📜intro to political science review

Authoritarian-populist judiciary

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

An authoritarian-populist judiciary is a judicial system where judges and legal decisions align strongly with authoritarian principles under the guise of reflecting popular will or majority sentiment. It often involves undermining the independence of the judiciary to favor decisions that consolidate power within a single ruler or party.

Course connection

Topic 11.1: 11.1 What Is the Judiciary?

Unit 11