Patronage
Etymology
From Latin patronus ("protector, advocate"), itself from pater ("father") — the patron stood in a father-like role of protection over his dependents. In ancient Rome this was a formal bond of mutual obligation; in modern politics it became the system of doling out public jobs and spoils to loyalists. The paternal root lingers in the sense of a powerful figure providing for those beneath him.
noun · /PAY-truh-nij/
The power to grant jobs, contracts, or favors, used to reward supporters and secure their loyalty.
What it names
It names one of the fundamental currencies of power — the ability to dispense benefits, which turns officeholders into gatekeepers and recipients into clients.
Example
Every incoming administration inherited thousands of posts to fill, and patronage still shaped who got them.
Related idea
Clientelism is patronage seen from the recipients’ side and organized as a durable network of exchange. Patronage is the giver’s power to reward; clientelism is the whole reciprocal system that grows up around it.