What makes a republic different from a democracy?
A republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter or constitution. A democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority. Although these forms of government are often confused, they are quite different.
The main difference between a republic and a democracy is the charter or constitution that limits power in a republic, often to protect the individual’s rights against the desires of the majority. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.
Pulled Discussion:
PORILLIOIn my opinion, the US began as a republic but has now migrated to a full democracy.
In a republic, learned men (or women) are elected to represent the people with the knowledge and intellect that they possess. During the first years of the country, our representatives were up in congress, far away from their constituents. When issues came up, they could not call home, take a poll or write to get their states’ opinions of the issue at hand. Instead, if they were able to get some kind of feedback, it was in the form of their state legislatures, not from the masses who were less educated and not learned in foreign affairs, economics and other issues brought to the table. Representatives were charged to listen to the issues at hand and vote according to their opinions, not to run back on every issue to see how they needed to vote to be re-elected.
We are now a full democracy with every person out to just get what they want. They don’t care about the nation or the people as a whole. All democracies will ultimately fail because of this.
WILLIAMQBERTThe problem with the US is there is no longer a clear separation between public and private affairs. It means anything is up for the vote, and slimy politicians stand ready to profit from the demands for “social justice” and “a fair share”, or the expansion of the warfare/surveillance state to combat “terrorism”. Everyone is up in each other’s business.
Each special interest, whether it’s a corporate lobby or union, is rushing to force their will on the country before the other group can. We are slipping into mob rule, out of which a populist dictator will emerge to “get things done”. The same thing happened to Rome, and prewar Germany. It can happen again if we don’t wake up.
ANON318242I hear people call the United States a democracy all the time, these people are confused by the words “type” and “form.” A republic and a democracy are both Democratic types of government in which the people hold generally free elections, where representatives are elected to make decisions concerning government actions. As forms of government, not only are a republic and a democracy dissimilar, they are antithetical to each other.
In a democracy, it is the majority unlimited, with no safeguards in place for the protection of an individual or groups of individuals comprising a minority. Any actions decided by elected representatives cannot be appealed within the legal system. In a democracy, the majority is absolute.
In a republic, on the other hand, it is the majority strictly limited by a written constitution, with safeguards in place for the protection of an individual or groups of individuals comprising a minority. Actions taken by elected representatives can be appealed within the legal system. In a republic, the majority is always subject to the protections of the individual outlined within the written constitution.
In a republic, it does not matter how loud the majority shouts for something; that something will always be subject to the protection of the individual. If this were a democracy, women wouldn’t be allowed to vote, because the majority view at the time of the women’s rights movement was that women shouldn’t be allowed to vote. If this were a democracy, Blacks wouldn’t be allowed to vote, because the majority view at the time of the Civil Rights movement was that Blacks shouldn’t be allowed to vote. Because this is a republic and not a democracy, the whims of the majority were subject to the protections of the individual, and now women and Blacks have the right to vote. Thank God I live in a republic!
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