magistracy

magistracy
    n 1: the position of magistrate [syn: {magistracy},
         {magistrature}]
    

Magistracy \Mag"is*tra*cy\, n.; pl. {Magistracies}. [From
   {Magistrate}.]
   1. The office or dignity of a magistrate. --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The collective body of magistrates.
      [1913 Webster]
    

MAGISTRACY, mun. law. In its most enlarged signification, this term includes 
all officers, legislative, executive, and judicial. For example, in most of 
the state constitutions will be found this provision; "the powers of the 
government are divided into three distinct departments, and each of these is 
confided to a separate magistracy, to wit: those which are legislative, to 
one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judiciary, 
to another." In a more confined sense, it signifies the body of officers 
whose duty it is to put the laws in force; as, judges, justices of the 
peace, and the like. In a still narrower sense it is employed to designate 
the body of justices of peace. It is also used for the office of a 
magistrate. 
    

125 Moby Thesaurus words for "magistracy":
      Kreis, aedileship, archbishopric, archdiocese, archiepiscopacy,
      archiepiscopate, aristocracy, arrondissement, bailiwick, bishopric,
      borough, canton, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate,
      chancellorship, chiefery, chiefry, chieftaincy, chieftainry,
      chieftainship, city, commune, congressional district,
      constablewick, consulate, consulship, county, deanery, departement,
      dictatorship, dictature, diocese, directorship, district, duchy,
      electoral district, electorate, emirate, episcopacy, government,
      governorship, hamlet, headship, hegemony, hierarchy, hundred,
      justiceship, leadership, lordship, magistrateship, magistrature,
      masterdom, mastership, mastery, mayoralty, mayorship, metropolis,
      metropolitan area, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, nobility,
      oblast, okrug, papacy, parish, pashadom, pashalic, patriarchate,
      patriarchy, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood,
      popeship, precinct, prefectship, prefecture, premiership,
      presidency, presidentship, prime-ministership, prime-ministry,
      princedom, princeship, principality, proconsulate, proconsulship,
      protectorate, protectorship, province, provostry, provostship,
      rectorate, rectorship, regency, regentship, region, riding,
      ruling class, seigniory, seneschalship, seneschalsy, sheikhdom,
      sheriffalty, sheriffcy, sheriffdom, sheriffwick, shire, shrievalty,
      soke, stake, state, supervisorship, suzerainship, suzerainty,
      territory, town, township, tribunate, village, vizierate,
      viziership, wapentake, ward