Difference Between a Democracy and a Republic

The difference between a democracy and a republic can be a murky one, but it is not semantic. Understanding the distinction makes a world of difference in the way we sustain liberty.

“Democracy” is derived from the Greek root “demos,” which means “people.” In other words, a “democracy” is any form of government in which the people control the government, rather than a monarch. However, democracies have historically led to nothing more than the people getting to choose who their ruler will be.

Republics are more complex, and in fact, are designed to specifically address the shortcomings of pure democracy. Rather than simply let the people vote on who will make decisions, republics divide up the decision-making process itself between different offices and different branches of government so that power is decentralized. Likewise, they establish constitutional safeguards against the majority violating the rights of the minority.

The American Federal Republic was the first nation deliberately established on these principles, and it has thus far been the most stable and long-lasting constitutional government in world history.

Song: Pryor, Arthur, Arthur Pryor'S Band, and Thos. S Allen. Gen. mixup, U.S.A. march. 1912. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-259840/>.

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