hierarchy

剑桥词典

a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance
等级制度
Some monkeys have a very complex social hierarchy. 有些猴群中出现了非常复杂的种群等级。
He rose quickly through the political hierarchy to become party leader . 他的政治地位迅速上升，成了党的领导人。

the people in the upper levels of an organization who control it
统治集团 返回 hierarchy