by Stephen Pate

Created on: December 13, 2009   Last Updated: December 14, 2009

Republic vs. Democracy. Many Americans believe that they’re one and the same. Other Americans believe that a republic means representative democracy. Both of these types are wrong, and the mistake is easy to understand. In truth, the United States is a democratic republic.

What is a republic? What is a democracy? It’s important to know these definitions so we can discuss them.

A democracy is rule by the people. The earliest major democracy came about in Athens in 500 B.C., although there are examples of it in other parts of the world and in earlier times.  In Athenian democracy, citizens were able to directly take part in making law and government administration. It is from the direct democracy of Athens that people often confuse what democracy really means.

The democracy of Athens was different from other governments in that any voting citizen, who were all male citizens who finished militia training, could take part in government. In fact, it was considered a duty for them to do so. In the assembly, those attending would discuss and debate issues and would then vote on them, with the majority vote ruling.

When it came to administration of government, some positions were chosen by vote in the assembly, although others were chosen at random by lots. This helped caused the Athenians an even greater amount of direct involvement in the government. There was no political caste that could rule over the others. A pauper citizen was just as likely to gain a position as a citizen of wealth.

But that is not the only form of democracy that has been used. While Athens was a direct democracy, there have been examples of indirect democracies as well. Indirect democracies call for citizens to choose one or a few to represent their interests in government. This happens in extremely large democracies where direct democracy would be too bulky.

But if a few speak for the people, how can it still be called a democracy, where the power resides in the people? Because the people choose their representatives and leaders freely. The power resides in the people but it is exercised in the people’s representatives. This is why indirect democracy is also called representative democracy.

But if that is what a democracy is, that what is a republic? Well, their roots come from the same meaning: the people. Democracy means “power to the people.”  “Demos”

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