Eleanor Finch
Democracy and republic are often used interchangeably to describe a system of government in which the people vote for their leaders, as opposed to a monarchy. However, there are nuances to each term. Democracy comes from the Greek word 'demokratia', meaning 'rule by the people'. In a direct democracy, the citizens directly decide on policy initiatives without elected representatives as intermediaries. In contrast, in a constitutional republic, the people elect representatives to make laws and an executive to enforce those laws. The representatives are bound by a constitution that protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority. While the United States can be considered both a democracy and a republic, it is not a direct democracy, but a representative democracy or a constitutional republic.
| Characteristics | Direct Democracy | Constitutional Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Voting | The public is given a direct vote on a proposal or issue. | The people vote for their leaders. |
| Lawmaking | Citizens make laws directly. | Representatives chosen by the people make laws. |
| Protection of Minority Rights | The rights of the minority are largely unprotected. | The rights of the minority are protected from the will of the majority. |
| Constitution | N/A | An official set of fundamental laws, such as a constitution, prohibits the government from limiting or taking away certain inalienable rights of the people. |
| Implementation | Direct democracy is more widely utilised today. | Most modern nations, including the United States, are not pure constitutional republics but rather hybrid democratic republics. |
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What You'll Learn
Direct democracy vs. representative democracy
The United States is a democracy and a republic. While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some nuances and differences between them. Democracy comes from the Greek roots meaning "rule by the people", referring to direct democracy as in ancient Greece. In a direct democracy, the voting majority can make laws directly, leaving the rights of the minority unprotected.
In a republic, on the other hand, laws are made by representatives chosen by the people, and there is an official set of fundamental laws, such as a constitution, that protects the rights of the minority. The United States is a representative democracy or an indirect democracy, where citizens are free to elect officials to pass laws and formulate public policy representing the needs and viewpoints of the people. This is in contrast to a direct democracy, where citizens make decisions themselves, without any intermediary or representative.
The United States is also a federal constitutional republic or a federal constitutional democracy. This means that it is a hybrid democratic republic, with a system of separation of powers and responsibilities between branches of the government. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights prohibit the government from limiting or taking away certain inalienable rights of the people, even if the government was freely chosen by the majority.
While the United States is not a direct democracy, there has been a trend towards greater use of direct democracy in the form of ballot measures, referendums, and initiatives at the state and sub-state levels. These allow citizens to have a direct vote on a particular proposal or issue, and they have been protected by state and federal case law. However, some critics argue that direct democracy can undermine representative democracy, especially in a parliamentary system, and that citizens may not be well-informed enough to make decisions on complex issues.
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Citizens' rights
However, critics argue that direct democracy can undermine the protection of minority rights. In a pure direct democracy, the majority rules, and the rights of the minority may be overlooked. This is where a constitutional republic comes in, aiming to protect citizens' rights through a system of checks and balances.
In a constitutional republic, like the United States, citizens' rights are protected by an official set of fundamental laws, such as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These documents ensure that certain inalienable rights cannot be taken away by the government, even if it was chosen by a majority of the people. This system prioritises the protection of individual liberties and prevents the tyranny of the majority.
While citizens in a constitutional republic do not directly make laws, they elect representatives to do so on their behalf. This representative democracy ensures that citizens' voices are heard and that their interests are represented in the law-making process. It also allows for specialised knowledge and expertise to be brought into governance, which some argue leads to better outcomes for citizens.
Additionally, constitutional republics often provide mechanisms for citizens to participate directly in decision-making beyond regular elections. For example, referendums or ballot initiatives allow citizens to vote directly on specific proposals or constitutional changes. These tools enable citizens to have a more direct influence on policy while still maintaining the checks and balances of a constitutional republic.
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The role of elected representatives
In a direct democracy, the people decide on policies and laws without any intermediary or representative. All eligible citizens take an equal part in the process of making laws that govern them, and the citizens as a whole have the power to make all laws directly. This is often done through referendums, where the public is given a direct vote on a proposal or issue.
In a constitutional republic, also known as a representative democracy, the people elect representatives to make laws and executives to enforce those laws. This form of government recognises that it is unreasonable to expect citizens to devote significant time to governing when they have other commitments. Instead, citizens elect officials to pass laws and formulate public policy, representing the needs and viewpoints of the people.
In the United States, a federal constitutional republic or representative democracy, senators and representatives are the elected lawmakers, the president is the elected executive, and the Constitution is the official charter. The Constitution also serves to protect the rights of the minority, which may not be protected in a direct democracy where the voting majority holds power.
While direct democracy can be seen as a purer form of democracy, with ancient Greece and the Roman Republic providing historical examples, it can also be criticised for giving too much power to the majority and not adequately protecting the rights of the minority. A constitutional republic, with its system of checks and balances, aims to address this by empowering elected representatives to make decisions on behalf of their constituents while also protecting certain inalienable rights.
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The US context
The United States is neither a pure republic nor a pure democracy; it is a hybrid democratic republic. The US can be defined as a ""federal constitutional representative democracy" or a "federal constitutional republic". It is a representative democracy in the form of a constitutional republic. In a representative democracy, also called an indirect democracy, eligible citizens elect officials to pass laws and formulate public policy, representing the needs and viewpoints of the people. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights, for example, prohibit the government from limiting or taking away certain inalienable rights of the people, even if that government was chosen by a majority of the people.
The framers of the US Constitution did not envision direct democracy for the nation. They saw a danger in the tyranny of the majority and advocated for a representative democracy in the form of a constitutional republic. James Madison, for instance, advocated for a constitutional republic over direct democracy to protect individuals from the will of the majority.
In the late 1700s, during the American Revolution, the terms democracy and republic were used interchangeably. Both words meant that the power to govern was held by the people rather than a monarch. However, there is a nuance and difference between these words according to their historical use. Democracy comes from Greek roots meaning "rule by the people", and the basic understanding of the word refers to direct democracy, as in ancient Greece.
In practice, the word "republic" has the same meaning as the term "representative democracy". The United States is a democracy since the people hold the ultimate political power, but it is not a direct democracy.
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Direct democracy in the UK
Direct democracy, also known as pure democracy, is a form of democracy in which the people directly decide on policy initiatives and pass laws, without the need for elected representatives as intermediaries. This is in contrast to representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to formulate and enact policies on their behalf. Direct democracies are often associated with the idea of ''popular sovereignty', where the ultimate power rests with the people.
The United States, like most modern nations, is a hybrid of a democratic republic, with elements of both direct and representative democracy. While the US Constitution did not initially envision direct democracy due to concerns about the 'tyranny of the majority', direct democratic practices have been increasingly incorporated at the state and federal levels through ballot measures, referendums, and citizens' initiatives.
In the UK, direct democracy is not as prevalent as in some other countries, such as Switzerland and the USA. However, referendums, a key feature of direct democracy, have been used on significant issues such as Scottish independence and EU membership. Referendums reflect the principle of 'popular sovereignty', but they can also create tension with the UK's parliamentary democracy, where the will of Parliament has traditionally held priority. While Parliament can theoretically ignore or overturn a referendum result, it is politically challenging to do so.
Some argue for the introduction of citizens' initiatives in the UK, where a petition with enough signatures could trigger a referendum. Proponents believe this would increase political engagement and ensure that the voices of citizens are heard. However, critics argue that direct democracy could conflict with the UK's parliamentary system and that it may lead to poorly informed decisions, as voters may not have the same level of expertise as politicians and policymakers.
Town meetings, another form of direct democracy, have been suggested as a way to invigorate local democracy in the UK. This model, successful in New England and Switzerland, encourages ordinary people to participate directly in local governance and budgeting decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the electorate directly decides on policy initiatives, without elected representatives as intermediaries.
A constitutional republic is a representative democracy in which the people elect representatives to make the laws and an executive to enforce those laws.
In a direct democracy, the citizens as a whole have the power to make all laws directly. In a constitutional republic, the people elect representatives to make the laws and an executive to enforce those laws.
