A Democracy or a Republic, which is it

I have spent the better part of the last 8 years deeply immersed in the study of our founding as a nation and the application of the constitution as it was written by the founders. One of the most common things I hear that raise questions among novice and the learned alike is the use of the term democracy to describe what our founding fathers envisioned for this nation. Let's take a look at the word and what it actually means:

de·moc·ra·cy

[dih-mok-ruh-see] 

noun, plural de·moc·ra·cies.

1.government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

2.a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies.

3.a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.

4.political or social equality; democratic spirit.

5.the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.

 

Looking at all 5 definitions you might come to the conclusion that it fits what this nation is to a tee. Hell, it even says in #2 that the US and Canada ARE democracies. What is missing in these definitions that you normally associate with a democracy? Majority rule, right? Right. In actuality Canada is more of a Socialist country than anything with nearly half of its economy run by the government and a long standing nationalized healthcare system that you only have to take a cursory look at to understand why Obamacare will not work(a whole other debate). True democracy is simply majority rule. Having said that and with the state of things today you can easily see where people might consider the US a democracy. 

 

Rewind to July 4, 1776 on the steps coming out of Independence Hall a woman waited nervously to find out what had been decided. As Benjiman Franklin came out she asked eagerly "Well, what have you given us?" to which he replied, "a Republic, if you can keep it". Why in the world would Franklin use the term republic if it was supposed to be a democracy? He wouldn't. The founders full well knew what the difference was and wanted no part of the democracy that could so easily be abused and modified until it was twisted into Socialism. 

 

Here is the most important difference between a democracy and a republic. A democracy is majority rule. A republic is governed by the rule of law. 

 

Don't believe me? Read for yourself and the Federalist Papers is a good place to start. 

 

Til next time.