An "acting" official holds office to ensure both the stability and continuity of his department will continue despite the absence of a formal leader.

Although popular and verbally facile individuals are influential in public affairs, the Semai have no formal leaders.

There appears to be no social hierarchy; the Pirahã have no formal leaders.

Various Web sites keep riders informed, but there is no hierarchy, and there's no formal leader of the pack.

Senior formal leaders in their graduating year are called prefects, the students must wear uniforms, and each student is a member of a house.

Clergy are some of the formal leaders within certain religions.

The party did not initially have a formal leader, though Hosking served as "campaign leader"

Among us," he said, "the Sayyadina, when they are not the formal leaders, hold a special place of honor.

The formal leader of the party is the President.

Still others may lack any formal leaders, either in principle or by local necessity.