meritocracy

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

meritocracy
    n 1: a form of social system in which power goes to those with
         superior intellects
    2: the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior
       abilities and not because of their wealth or birth

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

meritocracy \meritocracy\ n.
   1. A form of social system in which power goes to those with
      superior intellects.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   2. The belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior
      abilities and not because of their wealth or birth.
      [WordNet 1.5]