Democracy or Republic? In which do we live...

One of the best ways to define a republic in "layman's terms" is that a democracy and republic are the same in all respects but one. In a democracy the sovereignty is in the whole group; once the decision is made, it's binding on all. However, in a republic, the sovereignty is in the individual. The definition of sovereignty requires that anything enacted by the group be merely advisory upon the member of the republic.