I asked my kids, what is the difference between a Democracy and Republic? They could not answer.?

Question

Right and left. Conservative and liberal. Democrat and repubilican. What is the difference? They seem to switch all the time.

Answer 1

Well a Democracy means rule by many but in Ancient Greece in areas with Democracy it meant all Male Citizens age 18 and over were part of the Government getting to vote on Laws.

In Rome the Republic allowed one to elect Representatives but it was not considered a Democracy, plus a Roman Republic allowed for a Dictator to serve for 6 Months in an Emergency but Julius Caesar was declared Dictator for Life.

America copied Democracy from Greece and Republic from Rome to make America into a Democratic Republic.

he Democratic Party started out as the Anti-Federalist party then eventually was the Democratic-Republican Party later shortened to Democratic party (was actually called Republican for short till Republican was dropped from the name).

The Republican party did copy their name from the old Democratic-Republican party but was formed out of Anti-Slavery persons from The Whig, Democratic and minor parties called Know Nothing Parties (such were called Know Nothing Parties because some of them were secretive and would answer "I don't know" rather than reveal a Secret).

A lot of Democrats were Pro-Slavery back then but the ones that were Anti-Slavery quit the Democrats to join with Anti-Slavery Whigs and others to form the Republican Party since until the Republicans were formed no Party had an Anti-Slavery Platform.

The Republicans were a 3rd Party when Lincoln got elected President but they quickly became a Major Party.

The Republicans temporarily changed their name to Union in 1864 to attract War Democrats that supported the Union.

The idea worked because War Democrat Andrew Johnson wound up Union nominee for President in Lincoln's Re-Election Campaign.

Andrew Johnson strictly considered himself Union even after the Party reverted back to Republican but Johnson eventually went back to being a Democrat.

A lot of Republicans are Conservative and a lot of Democrats are Liberal.

There does exist Liberal Republicans and Conservative Democrats.

After the GOP takeover of Congress some Conservative Democrats switched to Republican such as Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Then again a former Undersheriff in my County that was Republican had switched to Democrat because the Sheriff at the time happened to be Democrat and the Undersheriff at the time felt that switching parties would help make his job a Non-Partisan Job.

Answer 2

A republic by nature is more exclusive in regards to whom holds the power and responsibility for managing a nation. A democracy is more open and supportive of all people. For example, ancient Rome was a republic. Only the elite land-owners had the power to vote or elect their representatives.

The United States is a democratic republic. A good example would be the election of the President or the election of Supreme Court Justices. As a democracy we all vote for who will be President, but as a republic we allow our congresspeople to choose who will serve as a Supreme Court Justice.

This difference actually means nothing in regards to the two main political parties that rule American politics today. The Republican party dates back to Abraham Lincoln, and the Democratic party dates back to the same time, pre-civil war. Back then, the ideologies of the two parties were almost completely opposite to what they are today.

Today's political parties shift constantly in response to an attempt to get more votes. However the basic principles of the two parties revolve around social equality and government intervention. Democrats believe that the government should take an active role in promoting equality and fighting poverty, whereas Republicans believe that the government should not have that much power, because if they did then the federal government could become a tyranny.

Answer 3

A democracy is everyone with an interest voting on everything.

A Republic is a handful of people making decisions by themselves.

A democratic republic is where people are elected to represent the interests of everyone in the area.

Right means Conservatives and/ or army extremists. Left means liberals and/or good Samaritans of all types.

Republicans are usually on the right somewhere. Democrats usually have moderate liberals and moderate conservatives.

Noone represents the far left. It is unfortunate that we are so quick to embrace the most extreme of pro-war pro-death, but are not willing to represent the extreme of people who want only peace.

Answer 4

If you read a civics book that goes into what a Democracy and what a Republic is, it's way too in depth for children to understand (especially with things like "semi-presidental system" and the definition of a Republic when referring to a "religious system" or a "non-religious system").

As far as Democrat/Liberal and Republican/Conservative, they are just words that mean nothing. Rarely are there ever only two sides to any issue, and the Dem./Rep. arguments and squabbles tend to over-simplify major issues (economy, abortion, net nutrality, etc.) since, more times than not, people will simply vote "with their party" as opposed to finding a middle ground, or even considering that there may be a middle ground.

Answer 5

A republic is rule of law with some amount of government as a necessary means to protect life and property whereas a democracy is mob rule; 51% controlling the other 49%

Answer 6

Here's the two definitions, below. Note that the main differentiation between them is under democracy: "The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community." This isn't present in the "republic" definition, and I think it pretty much sums up the difference.


Republic:
A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
A nation that has such a political order.
A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
A nation that has such a political order.

Democracy:
Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
A political or social unit that has such a government.
The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
Majority rule.
The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

Answer 7

A true democracy, all the citizens vote on everything - a republic elects representatives to do the voting.

Answer 8

A democracy is a government in which the people hold supreme party and there is social equality.
A republic is a state governed by representatives who are elected by its citizens.

-RKO-

Answer 9

Well in the US we are a democratic-republic. As we are not a direct democracy as we don't directly vote for everything.

Answer 10

You should ask them what a Constitutional Monarchy is, really stump them :P
The queen is my head of state, but Parliament and the Prime minister govern. The queens assent is needed to pass laws and declare wars, but she cant say no to somethign Parliament agrees on.