When the delegates were leaving the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, legend has it that a woman called out to Ben Franklin to ask what kind of government they had created. Franklin responded: “A republic, madam. If you can keep it.”
That’s right, the U.S. is a republic. It is not technically a democracy. Then why do so many people, including American politicians, call the U.S. a democracy? My theory is that it’s wishful thinking, and whenever the Democrats say a certain politician is “a threat to democracy,” it’s a code phrase that means he or she is a threat to their mob rule.
Democrats love the idea of a Democracy. A Constitutional Republic? Not so much.
David Harsanyi, senior editor at The Federalist, wrote in a commentary on Real Clear Politics, “For as long as I can remember, the Left has been sneering at anyone who points out that the United States is a republic, not a democracy. They find the notion almost as unsophisticated and fascistic as flying a revolutionary-era flag. Others dismiss the democracy/republic debate as pedantic or a semantic distraction. They shouldn’t.”
He goes on to say, “There is, of course, zero legitimate debate discussion to be had over whether we are a direct democracy. Not today, nor ever. Democracy isn’t even mentioned anywhere in any founding document, much less a direct one. None of the framers entertained any notions about majoritarianism or federal power that would even loosely comport the ones now embraced by the Left.”
So what’s the difference between the terms “republic” and “democracy” anyway?
Democracy
In its purest form, democracy means rule by the people. In a pure democracy, citizens in a society directly participate in decision-making and law-making processes. The people personally vote on laws or other policy initiatives, as some states do on referendum votes and ballot measures, instead of electing representatives to do it on their behalf. Ancient Athens is a classic example of direct democracy. The emphasis is on majority rule, where the majority’s decision prevails.
Republic
A republic is a form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. The head of state is an elected or nominated president, not a monarch. The Roman Republic is a classic example of a republic. Likewise, the United States of America is a federal republic with a presidential system. In a republic, the government is based on a constitution that protects the rights of individuals and minorities against the will of the majority. This means that even if the majority wants to pass a law, it cannot infringe on certain inalienable rights protected by the Constitution.
Key Differences
Law-Making: In a pure democracy, the majority has almost unlimited power to make laws – AKA “the majority rules.” In a republic, laws are made by representatives and must comply with a Constitution that protects minority rights.
Protection of Rights: Democracies can lead to the “tyranny of the majority,” where the majority’s interests can override those of the minority. In contrast, a republic has a Constitution that safeguards individual rights against majority rule.
James Madison Explained the Difference
James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution,” was a key figure in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. He discussed the difference between a direct democracy and a republic in Federalist Paper 10. Madison distinguished between the two by stating that in a democracy, the people directly govern themselves, while in a republic, they elect representatives to govern on their behalf. This representative system in a republic helps to mitigate the dangers of factionalism and ensures a more stable and just government. Factionalism is a condition in which a large group of people splits up into multiple smaller groups with differing and often opposing opinions or interests. Hmm, sound familiar?
In his paper, Madison discusses how the impact of factions is different in the two government types. He warns that people with common interests or agendas could form a coalition and if that coalition forms a majority, they can suppress the interests of the minority. As an example, imagine if the lower classes formed an alliance in which they demanded their economic interests be heard. In a direct democracy, they could control most decisions because of the sheer volume of votes. This would potentially harm commercial and economic development. Madison felt that the impact of factions could be offset by establishing a form of representative government. In a republic with a large population, Madison believed that factions would remain local and would not spread to all parts of the nation. He realized it was impossible to stop the formation of political parties, but knew that their influence on liberty could be stymied in a republic.
Summary
In summary, the terms “democracy” and “republic” have distinctly different meanings and implications. While both systems involve the participation of citizens in governance, a republic places a stronger emphasis on the rule of law and the protection of individual rights. A republic diffuses power, whereas a democracy equals majority rule. So, in a direct democracy, the high population states of New York and California would always get to make all the rules for the rest of us. You can learn more about that in this article.
The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution is largely concerned with protecting individuals from big government and the mob. It’s no coincidence that the people who call us a “democracy” also champion the idea that the Constitution is an “evolving” document and that the elites of the country should be empowered to lord over the economic, religious, cultural, and political decisions of the rest of us. So beware of those who use that term!
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