Is the United States a democracy or a republic?
148370
The United States of America is a federal republic situated primarily in North America.\n\nThe United States is, indeed, a republic, not a democracy. Accurately defined, a democracy is a form of government in which the people decide policy matters directly--through town hall meetings or by voting on ballot initiatives and referendums. A republic, on the other hand, is a system in which the people choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf.\n\nBy popular usage, however, the word "democracy" come to mean a form of government in which the government derives its power from the people and is accountable to them for the use of that power. In this sense the United States might accurately be called a democracy.
380165
The U.S. is not a Democracy,It is a Representative Republic.\nIt does not matter what 100% vote for,What matters is what our elected law makers vote for.\nThis generation does not even know what kind of government they have.
73572
Voting is a privelege. The United States of America is a nation Of The People, For The People, By The People. It all starts with elections. We elect the politicians who make the laws of the land. Democrats are a party who believe in big government and believe you don't have the capacity to think for yourselves. They put out big government programs that cost tons of money to cure societal problems "because you can't handle it". Republicans are a party who believe in small government. They believe in rewards for accomplishments. They want you to succeed on your own and be self sufficient. There ya go. If you don't vote then someone will be put in office that goes against your beliefs.
468101
If there is one thing that the United States is not, is a democracy.  It is a Constitutional Republic.  Every natural born citizen has the opportunity to work their way through the political system and become President.  Unlike many countries, it matters little where the individual came from and more what the people think of the individual.
1127598
Actually the U.S. is a republic, not a democracy.  \n\nI'm not going to argue politics with a foreigner.
134566
in The Republic, Plato illustrates a system of government in which there is a special class of Philosopher Kings who's business it is to run the government.  They are paid to do so, and can dedicate themselves to learning about laws and finding out what's best for the people as a whole.  Rome was a republic (for a time, before Ceasars took over and make it an Empire) with the citizens electing representatives.  This is part of the basis for the United States Government, which is actually a Republic. ("and to the Republic for which it stands...")  The fact that America is a Republic has nothing to do with the Political Party of the Republics.  Democrats don't intend to change our system away from being a Republic.  I consider myself a Conservative and vote Republican because I feel they're stance on financial issues is better.
448813
Remember when counting, that a Republic (like the US) isn't technically a democracy. A democracy has the people directly deciding issues. A republic has some subset of the people picking other people who make all the decisions. \n\nThis would be a very different country if the actual majority of voting people made the decisions directly, rather than electing legislators. If you don't believe that, look at how many times in the recent past presidents have been elected without having a majority of the popular vote, but rather because of the way the electoral college works.
758330
Really America is a Republic, so Democracy is just a myth..Right now with Bush it's a Dictatorship, and Democracy is once again a myth. Democracy means "For the people, By the people" (Abraham Lincoln), not for the corporations, and the rich people that want to rule.
32675
First of we are a federal Republic.  A democracy doesn't exist.  A republic is a representative form of government where the populace votes for people to represent their views in government.  \n\nDemocracy is where everyone has a say in every decision.  This would never and has never worked, even in ancient Greece because women, children, slaves and convicts never were allowed to vote.\n\nEven with the day to day decisions the ancient Greecians had a ruling council.
754420
a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. Several definitions, including that of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, stress the importance of autonomy and the rule of law as part of the requirements for a republic.\nE.g., India, South Africa etc.,\nVR
310784
Democracy comes from two greek words - Demos (people) and Cratos (rule). So it means "rule by the people".\n\nDemocracy simply means that the people are the ones who make decisions. In that sense, the United States has only on rare occasions been a democracy.
91415
No, it's a republic. Their current president is Elías Antonio Saca González.
566841
Democracy is people's government.
17961
In a true Democracy, every citizen is allowed to vote on every issue, like laws and people in office.  In a Representational Government or Democratic Republic, like the US, representatives are elected to vote on issues for us.  We elect the representatives and senators we think will make the best decisions.
37196
Democracy is a form of government where the people make the decisions. People mistake the US for a democracy, but we are not. We select the people that make the decisions, and this is what a republic is about.
67338
It's not.  It's a republic.  In a democracy, all the people would have to vote to pass every law.  In a republic, we elect representatives to do that for us.
715757
In the democratic form of goverment that the U.S. currently has, that is correct.\n\nDemocracy in the U.S. does not mean "rule by the majority."  In a democracy there are certain fundamental human rights that are protected.  Among these rights is the right to freely practice an individual's chosen religion, any religion, without government interference AND without establishing an official state religion over any other religion.