Ombudsman

[from Old Norse ombudsmadr, a person with an authorisation. Norwegian and Swedish today: Ombudsmann]

Historically, a person who was the head of the king's administration in one district. The man holding this position was a public servant, appointed by the a public authority or the king, or elected by the voters

Today, the ombudsman is a legislative commissioner for investigating citizens' complaints of bureaucratic abuse. He is supposed to be an independent, and presumably impartial, arbiter between government and the individual.

Related links:

Read a long article about the ombudsman.