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Difference between Democracy and a Republic?

Better descriptions of democracy posted below

A republic is a government where the people elect representatives to lead the government (think JUST congress with less red tape)

imho

The USA is more a theocracy/plutocracy than anything else
 
Democracy is absolute mob rule. Every single ciitzen is a member of the gov't. A republic is where representives of the citizens make the choices for teh people. American Gov't is a hybrid of the two, as certain choices are made by the people, and others are made by the reps.
 
Biggest thing with a Republic is that we have elected representatives that vote for many things on behalf of us.

In a *true* democracy, any and every law that was to come to pass would have to be voted on by the people. That's obviously not possible because we'd spend more time voting on things than we would doing anything else.

So instead, we elect people that we *hope* express similar views as us and let them vote on the the stuff for us.

Nutshell explanation anyway.
 
Originally posted by: FFactory0x
Difference between Democratcy and a Republic?

What are the differences?
Click to expand...

A true democracy is where everyone of legal age etc votes on everything. Ideal for small communities and not large nations.

A Republic is, like earlier stated, you elect government officials to represent you and make decisions for you.
 
Anchient Greece was about the only time were a semi-true democracy existed. Like previous posters said, the US is a cross between the two along with a little theocracy and oligarchy. Then you have the entire gammut of activists over here...........
 
A republic is a government limited by the rule of law (i.e. constitution) with a representative legislative body (i.e. congress) and an elected non-monarchist head-of-state (i.e. president).

A democracy is similar except the rule of law is replaced by the rule of the people. In that case, that would be a democratic republic. Democracies can come in other flavors though, for example a socialist democracy or even a communist democracy (i.e. "People's" democracy). The key factor of a democracy though is that no law limits the rule of the people.
 
http://www.answers.com/republic&r=67

...a republic is a state in which all segments of society are enfranchised and in which the state's power is constitutionally limited. Traditionally a republic is distinguished from a true democracy in that the republic operates through a representative assembly chosen by the citizenry, while in a democracy the populace participates directly in governmental affairs. In actual practice, however, most modern representative governments are closer to a republic than a democracy. The United States is an example of a federal republic, in which the powers of the central government are limited and the component parts of the nation, the states, exercise some measure of home rule.
Click to expand...

The formation of the US as a republic instead of a pure democracy was to protect against "mob rule." Pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for diner. It is tyranny of the majority over the minority/individual. The US as a republic protects individual/minority rights from mob rule.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
http://www.answers.com/republic&r=67

...a republic is a state in which all segments of society are enfranchised and in which the state's power is constitutionally limited. Traditionally a republic is distinguished from a true democracy in that the republic operates through a representative assembly chosen by the citizenry, while in a democracy the populace participates directly in governmental affairs. In actual practice, however, most modern representative governments are closer to a republic than a democracy. The United States is an example of a federal republic, in which the powers of the central government are limited and the component parts of the nation, the states, exercise some measure of home rule.
Click to expand...

The formation of the US as a republic instead of a pure democracy was to protect against "mob rule." Pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for diner. It is tyranny of the majority over the minority/individual. The US as a republic protects individual/minority rights from mob rule.
Click to expand...


I would argue that political parties have made out government something other than a republic. In a republic we would vote for who we want. With party politics being what they are, we now have the effective choice of voting for those we are allowed to vote for.

Did anyone really have an alternative to Bush or Kerry? Not in a hypothetical sense, but a third candidate who could win? No. No one has that kind of money.


 
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: Amused
http://www.answers.com/republic&r=67

...a republic is a state in which all segments of society are enfranchised and in which the state's power is constitutionally limited. Traditionally a republic is distinguished from a true democracy in that the republic operates through a representative assembly chosen by the citizenry, while in a democracy the populace participates directly in governmental affairs. In actual practice, however, most modern representative governments are closer to a republic than a democracy. The United States is an example of a federal republic, in which the powers of the central government are limited and the component parts of the nation, the states, exercise some measure of home rule.
Click to expand...

The formation of the US as a republic instead of a pure democracy was to protect against "mob rule." Pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for diner. It is tyranny of the majority over the minority/individual. The US as a republic protects individual/minority rights from mob rule.
Click to expand...


I would argue that political parties have made out government something other than a republic. In a republic we would vote for who we want. With party politics being what they are, we now have the effective choice of voting for those we are allowed to vote for.

Did anyone really have an alternative to Bush or Kerry? Not in a hypothetical sense, but a third candidate who could win? No. No one has that kind of money.
Click to expand...

In nearly every election independants run. The people choose not to vote for them in the majority of races.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
In nearly every election independants run. The people choose not to vote for them in the majority of races.
Click to expand...
I agree. The fault doesn't lie with the 2 major political parties, but in the brainwashed sheep of the people who think that their only choices are the 2 major political parties.
There is no reason why people can't vote for other party candidates, they just don't on the foolish belief that doing so is "wasting" a vote.
 
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