Was U. S. originally established as a Democracy or a Republic?

[strateguy632]

a, what is the difference?

b, it was a democracy so needs #democratic party

c, it was a republic so needs republican party

d, a democracy has danger of concentration and gathering power to one person or a small group, so we need republican small government.

e, We believe whatever fox news tells us.

f, We believe whatever C. N. N. tells us.

g, #Biden fixed the economy

h, President Biden caused horrible inflation in economy.

i. other, ( in reply )

[Astarlessnightsky]

Rebublic means everything that isn't governed by a Monarchy (King/Queen/...)

Democracy means governed by the people.

In most cases the country is both a rebublic and democracy. However there are exception, for example, a country ruled by a dictator is a rebublic but not a democracy. And countries with both parliament and monarchy like Great Britain are a democracy but not a rebublic.

Democratic and rebublican parties may once be named after that slight difference, but its not or only a little bit connected.

Maybe those founding father who just wanted to get rid of monarchy created the republican party, and those who put the power of the people at first priority created the democratic party, but not sure... about that.

I think the US was founded as a democratic rebublic.

[strateguy632]

i see you thought about your theories but no. republican party was many decades later than founding fathers its main issue was granting slaves freedom. the constitution specified republican not what you said.

[TheorionMage]

The ORIGINAL colonies were founded to a regionally-represented 'republic' since the AVERAGE U. S. citizens were relatively un-educated farmers, tradesmen and home makers. The Electoral College is a vestige of that premise.

NOTHING OBLIGATES these delegates to ABSOLUTELY vote the 'will' of their territory's populace!
Money & influence are EVERY BIT as 'motivational' as ALWAYS has been AND absolute power CORRUPTS 'absolutely'. American politics were NEVER intended to be vested as 'lifetime' career employment! Term limits were ASSUMED to be 'common sense'; we see HOW NAIVE THAT was!

[OlderAndWiser]

"Are there restrictions on who the electors can vote for?
There is no Constitutional provision or Federal law that requires electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their States. Some States, however, require electors to cast their votes according to the popular vote. These pledges fall into two categories—electors bound by State law and those bound by pledges to political parties.

The U. S. Supreme Court has held that the Constitution does not require that electors be completely free to act as they choose and therefore, political parties may extract pledges from electors to vote for the parties' nominees. Some State laws provide that so-called "faithless electors" may be subject to fines or may be disqualified for casting an invalid vote and be replaced by a substitute elector. The Supreme Court decided (in 2020) that States can enact requirements on how electors vote. No elector has ever been prosecuted for failing to vote as pledged. However, several electors were disqualified and replaced, and others fined, in 2016 for failing to vote as pledged."

www.archives.gov/.../electors#restrictions

[OlderAndWiser]

Democrats do not stand for democracy and Republicans do not stand for republics.

This country was established as a democratic republic. If you don't know what that means, google "democratic republic."

[strateguy632]

that is the danger of digital sources... google and wikipedia. how about a quote? "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government," not what you said.

[OlderAndWiser]

And what is the jurisprudence of SCOTUS when interpreting that clause? Because the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means. And, yes, despite that clause in the Constitution, we were established as a democratic republic, but I suspect you do not know the meaning of those terms as they were used in 1789.

[strateguy632]

clearly you misinterpreted the authority of a court. the judges can't change the direction. they apply laws to various circumstances. i emphasize "the Constitution created a limited government designed to protect liberty, not to foster democracy.” (p. 16) But the United States “consistently has moved toward more democracy, and the unintended side effect has been a reduction in liberty.” (p. 25)"

[OlderAndWiser]

How long have you been practicing law?

[rigmarole]

America is a "Constitutional Federal Republic". A republic is a form of government in which a state is ruled by representatives of the citizen body. Federations unlike unitary governments, do not have centralized power. In a federation there is a balance of power between the federal state (i. e. Washington D. C.) and the constituent parts (i. e. States) and that equilibrium of shared power must be maintained. What regulated that balance is the agreed upon Constitution. What ever was written down in that constitution acts a contract between the federal state and the constituents. It is a compact, or what would more widely be known as a contract that parties have signed onto and ratified. Both parties are subject to the terms of the contract and can't break the law of the land.

[rigmarole]

When either the federal state or a constituent part breaches the contract, then the Supreme Court of the United States arbitrates by smacking them in the face and calling them an idiot. Then they tell them to go home and shut up.

[rigmarole]

The court is there to settle disputes between states so that they don't need to go to war with each other every time some Biden get's a bright idea after sniffing a kid.

[Anonymous]

Republic, thou that has nothing to do with the party name The founders were actually very strongly against democracy: https://fee.org/articles/why-americas-founders-didnt-want-a-democracy/

As for party names they have little to do with party platforms. Indeed one thing you will find in American politics looking thou history is that party names, are themselfs propaganda just like the political campaigns of the politicians who make them up.

As such they tend to represent what its politicians want you to beleive which is very often the opposite of the truth. For example in the original 2 parties the Federalist were actually not for federalism at all.

[AviatorTom]

The USA has always been a Republic. Many people think it's a democracy (schools don't teach it well) but it's a republic of 50 states. Just look at the name... United States of America, not Federal America.. According to the US Constitution, power rests with each individual state, with the federal government as an overseer, only providing for defense, an overseeing judiciary and a common economy.

Over the years, the federal government has usurped powers that should belong to the states.

[SnowedIn]

Democracy versus isn't where the party names come from.

It's the type of government. We have, and have always had, a republic.

[strateguy632]

yup article 4, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, etc." i searched "dem" not even once democracy there, only one match mis-dem-eanor.

[Snakeyes7]

A republic

You have representatives vote on your behalf. It is done to get a better view of what people all across the country want instead of it all being ruled by the people who live in the cities like the Hunger Games.

[FunkyMonkee]

It was founded as a Constitutional REPUBLIC!

[exitseven]

it is a constitutional republic.

[Drewtate]

A republic in the style of ancient Rome.