Are elected leaders characteristic of most authoritarian governments?

yes ,offcource ,the leader selected by people are more Democratic

Yes

Explanation:

Authoritarianism is a political system based on a totalitarian political ideology in which a ruler can exercise absolute power over a state or any group of people in order to maintain the ultimate goal of maintaining one's power. The most extreme are electoral authoritarianisms, or authoritarian regimes with an electoral cortex. which appears in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

2018 means 2018 ce or common era

there have been other eras too including bce, which included way more years.

to act quickly in times of danger to the united states

because you have to act quickly if you want to live/survive.