What is the name for a system that is ruled by those with the greatest
seniority (i.e. they've been around the longest)?

I'm looking for an "-ocracy" word--not a phrase like "seniority based
system." I am also not satisfied with "gerontocracy" (rule by elders)
because it implies old age.

Imagine a community where the people in charge are the ones who
started it. They may not be old, or smart, but they're in charge just
because they've been around longest.

Reference points: Plutocracy: rule by the rich, Meritocracy: rule by
virtue of merit and ability, Theocracy: rule by religion, or by God,
Aristocracy: rule by the best (privileged class), Monarchy: rule by
one person, Oligarchy: rule by a few, Democracy: rule by the people

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Clarification of Question by alwayscurious-ga on 02 Mar 2004 20:45 PST

I thought I would give a chance to any late-comers to try to answer
this question, but it looks like the best answers are in.

Although I'm a little disappointed that there isn't a simple answer to
my question, I'm very satisfied that every effort was made to try to
find it--and pinkfreud went so far as to suggest a new word. Fine
work.

Pinkfreud, if you post your response as an answer, I will give you
full credit (cash and stars).

Thanks mucho.

Thank you very much for accepting my suggestions as the answer to your
question. I've reposted my remarks below.

I have seen "tenurocracy" used in the sense of "rule by those with the
most experience." However, "tenurocracy" does not appear in any
dictionary that I've found. Also, "tenurocracy" mixes Latin and Greek,
which displeases language purists.

If you want to coin a word for this kind of hierarchy, I suggest
"presbeiarchy." The Greek word "presbeia" carries a connotation of
seniority and rank:

" presbeia: age, seniority, rank, dignity, the body of ambassadors
(according to some also 'messenger/s, representative/s');"

Castle of the Silver Star: Tiamat and Marduk
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7069/tiamar.html

Note that although "tenurocracy" is not yet in dictionaries, it is
definitely in use:

Google Web Search: "tenurocracy"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=tenurocracy

Google Groups Search: "tenurocracy"
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=tenurocracy&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en

If I were choosing a word meaning "rule by seniority" to use in print,
I'd probably go with "tenurocracy," not with my coined word,
"presbeiarchy." The meaning of "tenurocracy" would be clear even to
someone who had not heard the word. "Presbeiarchy," although I am
rather fond of it, is probably too esoteric to use, unless one's
audience happens to be a group of classical scholars.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud

Excellent research.

I have seen "tenurocracy" used in the sense of "rule by those with the
most experience." However, "tenurocracy" does not appear in any
dictionary that I've found. Also, "tenurocracy" mixes Latin and Greek,
which displeases language purists.

If you want to coin a word for this kind of hierarchy, I suggest
"presbeiarchy." The Greek word "presbeia" carries a connotation of
seniority and rank:

" presbeia: age, seniority, rank, dignity, the body of ambassadors
(according to some also 'messenger/s, representative/s');"

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7069/tiamar.html

I'm leaving this interesting question open for other Researchers. If
no one comes up with a better suggestion, I'll be pleased to post
"tenurocracy" and/or "presbeiarchy" as your answer.

The Oxford English Dictionary, second and new editions, include 144
-ocracy words, including (and I'm not making this up) beerocracy,
pornocracy, and strumpetocracy, but none closer to your needs than
gerontocracy. It does seem that coining these words is both popular
and easy, however, and it seems pinkfreud's Greek is more polished
than mine. ;)

I spent enough time on this to be convinced there is no recognized
English word for rule by those with seniority. I'd go with Pinkfreud's
"tenurocracy" if I were to coin a word. (Actually, the word has been
used before, but as Pinkfreud says, it's not in any dictionary.)  If I
had to use existing terms, I'd go with "tenurial meritocracy."

Thank you very much for the five-star rating and the tip!

~pinkfreud