Miriam Webster’s AMERICAN definition of Republic
(1) a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president
(2) a political unit (such as a nation) having such a form of government
(3) a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law
(4)a political unit (such as a nation) having such a form of government
(5) a usually specified republican government of a political unit the French Fourth Republic
Definition of Republic in English: Oxford: NOUN
1A 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.
1.1archaic A group with a certain equality between its members.
Origin: Late 16th century: from French république, from Latin respublica, from res ‘entity, concern’ + publicus ‘of the people, public’.
The key difference between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed on government by the law, which has implications for minority rights. Both forms of government tend to use a representational system — i.e., citizens vote to elect politicians to represent their interests and form the government. In a republic, a constitution or charter of rights protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if it has been elected by a majority of voters. In a "pure democracy," the majority is not restrained in this way and can impose its will on the minority.
Most modern nations are democratic republics with a constitution, which can be amended by a popularly elected government. This comparison, therefore, contrasts the form of government in most countries today with a theoretical construct of a "pure democracy", mainly to highlight the Differences as well as the Similarities
Comparison Chart
Differences — Similarities —
Democracy versus Republic comparison chart
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Democracy
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Republic
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Definition
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Rule by the omnipotent majority. In a democracy, an individual, and any group of individuals composing any minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of the majority. It is a case of Majority-over-Man.
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A republic is similar to a representative democracy except it has a written constitution of basic rights that protect the minority from being completely unrepresented or overridden by the majority.
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Social Structure
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Class distinctions can become pronounced due to capitalist society. Varies from state to state.
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Class distinctions can become pronounced due to capitalist society. Varies from state to state.
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Constraints on the government
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No; the majority can impose its will on the minority.
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Yes; the majority cannot take away certain inalienable rights.
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Religion
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Generally, freedom of religion is permitted, although a majority faction may limit religious freedom for a minority faction.
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Generally, freedom of religion is permitted, especially insofar as there is a constitutional prohibition on interfering with freedom of religion.
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Political System
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Democratic. [Note: this is not meant as a reference to a Democratic Party.]
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Republican. [Note: this is not meant as a reference to a Republican Party.]
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Philosophy
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All eligible citizens get an equal say in decisions.
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All eligible citizens get an equal say in decisions with the protection of unalienable rights to individuals.
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Economic System
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Elected by the voters or their elected representatives.
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Elected by the voters or their elected representatives.
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Famous Examples
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Classical Greece, Rome
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Rome, France, United States Of America
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Sovereignty is held by
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the whole population (as a group)
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the people (individuals)
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Key Elements
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Free elections.
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Free elections, constitution.
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A common
confusion in the USA
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People commonly confuse direct democracy with representative democracy. The US officially has a representative style, though many have suggested the US is closer to an oligarchy or plutocracy.
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The US is actually a Republic. It is governed by rule of law. The elected are bound by oath to the written governing limits (ie constitution) yet vote "together" and create laws to address concerns of the represented in a democratic way
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Discrimination
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In theory, all citizens have an equal say and so are treated equally. However, often allows for the tyranny of the majority over the minority.
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In theory, all citizens have an equal say and so are treated equally by the government, especially insofar as there is a constitutional prohibition on government discrimination.
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Modern Examples
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More than half of the world, including the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc.
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The United States of America is a republic.
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Free Choice
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Individuals may make decisions for themselves except insofar as a majority faction has limited individuals.
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Individuals may make decisions for themselves, especially insofar as there is a constitutional prohibition on interfering with freedom of choice.
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Private Property
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Generally, private property is permitted, although a majority faction may place limits on property rights.
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Generally, private property is permitted, especially insofar as there is a constitutional prohibition on interfering with property rights.
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Variations
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Direct democracy, parliamentary democracy, representative democracy, presidential democracy.
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Democratic republics, Constitutional republics.
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Way of Change
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Voting.
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Voting.
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Observation in practice
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People commonly confuse direct democracy with representative democracy. The US has a representative style. But the will of the people shouldn’t easily decide to change the rules that limit power to the government.
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The U.S.A.'s Constitution clearly shows the U.S. as a Republic, Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution
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Today, citizens Of The United States, for example, often Assume have a REPUBLIC, but what, exactly, does a republic, and the philosophy that defines it—republicanism—mean?
Definition of Republicanism
In general, republicanism refers to the ideology embraced by members of a republic, which is a form of representational government in which leaders are elected for a specific period by the preponderance of the citizenry, the PEOPLE and laws are passed by the same PEOPLE for the benefit of the entire republic, rather than select members of a ruling class, or aristocracy.
In an ideal SOCIAL COMMUNITY MINDED REPUBLIC, leaders are elected From Among The Working Citizenry, Serve The Republic For A Defined Period, Then Return To Their Work, Never To Serve Again. Unlike a direct or "pure" Capitalist Fascist democracy, in which the majority vote rules, a republic guarantees a certain set of basic civil rights to every citizen, codified in a charter or constitution, which cannot be overridden by majority rule.
Key Concepts
Republicanism stresses several key concepts, notably, the importance of civic virtue, the benefits of universal political participation, the dangers of corruption, the need for separate powers within government, and a healthy reverence for the rule of law.
From These Concepts, One Paramount Value Stands Apart: Political Liberty.
Political liberty, in this case, refers not only to freedom from government interference in private affairs but FREEDOM FROM A POLITICAL PARTY OR “HEAD OF STATE”.
It also places great emphasis on self-DISCIPLINE and self- RELIANCE-GET OFF OF YOUR ASS build YOUR Community, Country, Family, Heritage Nation, Realm, Social Society.
Marxist Communism/Socialism Definition, Features, If Ever Practiced=Read Features/Practice of Republicanism They are Exactly the Same.
Al (Alex-Alexander) D Girvan.