Is the United States a Republic or a Democracy and is there a difference?

[Adaeva]

[Snakeyes7]

It's a republic. The difference is that, due to the representation if the state's, everyone from all across the country gets the same voice. This matters because some states are more rural than others and vice versa and therefore have different cultures. This allows a greater measure as to what the people want.

Direct democracy is often referred to as mob rule and think of the Hunger Games for a reason. It's based on the fallacy that if the majority of the group thinks something is true then it is. Then the people of the more popular areas get to decide the face of those who don't live there.

[Snakeyes7]

*Fate

[abc3643]

It's a republic. That's Constitutionally mandated in Article IV, Section 4:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiv

Section 4.
The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

[msmissydc]

Its a republic but that is self defining in their constitution. When you look at the definition of a representative democracy it fits the U. S as well as that of a republic. So technically its both but the constitution defines it as a republic (Constitution of the United States, Section 4) therefore it is one. The difference between a democracy and a republic is, that a a republic is never a direct democracy but a representative democracy can be a republic. Both republic and democracies defining factor is, that the "supreme power rests in the body of citizens" or "the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly [or indirectly by them]" (dictonary. com), in addition to that the head of state for a republic can never be a monarch.

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah, we sound closest to a "Representative Democracy", but not an "Absolute Democracy".
There actually ARE several "Constitutional Monarchies" that exist.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy

[msmissydc]

@KostasKouvalis I never said there are not. I never said a monarchy can't be constitutional. I just said a republic is not a monarchy. Not only republics have constitutions!

[KostasKouvalis]

These are the definitions that come up on Google Search

Republic: a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Democracy: a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

"Republic" sounds closer to our system of government, but I don't think we're either to be completely honest. Our power isn't absolute, and the people don't have control of everything. They only vote and leave their faith in the hands of elected officials.

[BJP21]

In the beginning of the Constitution it says "We the people of the United States, in Order for a more perfect Union"

The short answer is We the people are a democracy. However we are not a full democracy.

https://www.thoughtco.com/republic-vs-democracy-4169936

[joeldalton]

The United States is a constitutional representative republic. There is a distinct difference between the two. Democracy is mob rule. A Representative republic is set up so that ideally your representatives in government should look out for the rights of the minority.

[AviatorTom]

The USA is a Republic, made up of individual states who collectively, and in each of their own way, govern the country via representatives voted in by the people.

In a true Democracy, every proposed law is voted on by the people.

[Anonymous]

Constitutional Republic. It always makes me laugh whenever people refer to our gov't as a democracy. Because we're actually a Republic. We romanticize our founding fathers. But in actuality our founding fathers were the 1% of the time. They didn't want power in hands of the common man (the mob).

[SnowedIn]

We are a republic: our laws and governance lies in elected representatives of the people.

[SaoirseS]

It's a Constitutional Republic.

[Adaeva]

According to the Constitution that is true, but is it really true? Do you believe congress follows the Constitution or only the parts that don't interfere with the things they choose to do?

[SaoirseS]

I don't get into politics on GAG.

[abc3643]

@adaeva
Congress does what Congress does and if anyone doesn't like it, they file a case in Federal District Court, part of the Judicial Branch where it is ultimately decided if Congress acted constitutionally or not. That's WHY we have 3 branches of government; the Judicial Branch makes sure the other branches behave constitutionally. (Article 3, Section 2)

Apparently, you are not yet aware of Marbury v. Madison.
www.law.cornell.edu/wex/marbury_v_madison_(1803)

[FunkyMonkee]

"... And to the REPUBLIC, for which it stands..."

[shortster]

It is a republic. A democracy is straight majority rule. A republic is where you elect officials to represent you in government.

[OddBeMe]

Democracy is umbrella term for types of governments. UK has a parliament, for example.

[WindAtMyBack]

Both. They are not mutually exclusive.

[TrueConfection]

Still a republic on paper!

[milkov]

I want to visit the US someday

[Anonymous]

it's hell