Power elite

Definition

The power elite is a small group of people who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power, or skill in a society. These individuals often control or significantly influence the major decisions that affect society.

Related terms

Social Stratification:

The hierarchical arrangement of social classes, or strata, within a society.

Pluralism:

A theory suggesting that power in a society is distributed among multiple competing groups.

Oligarchy:

A form of government in which power effectively rests with a small number of people