2006-11-22 11:02:50 · 14 answers · asked by Wolly 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
The technical term for it is a democratic republic so a lot of ppl like to argue it is not a democracy; but, actually it is.
There are many different forms of democracies with the basic concept applying when the will of the ppl is heard.
In a republic like ours, we do have this. We elect officials to speak the will of the ppl... to represent the ppl; therefore, we are a democracy.
The difference between our democracy and say a direct democracy is that we elect regional representatives to do the work, study and research for us in order to make informed choices.
2006-11-22 11:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by BeachBum 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
America is a compilation: a Democratic Republic, where the people vote directly for their Representatives (the Legislature); a Republic, where the states send representatives to a central government, who then decide their leader (the Presidency); and an oligarchy, where the people have appointed leaders who have no responsibility back to the people beyond their own conscience (the Supreme Court.)
The greatest amount of power, however, is reserved for the Legislature, where laws are created and passed, and even further to the House of Representatives, where all tax law must start.
Over the years, we have migrated further toward a Democratic Republic, with the appointment of Senators by a vote of the people, rather than by the Legislatures of the various states, and a long-term running debate exists on moving the Presidency that way as well.
Said another way,
In a Democracy, the people consider the issues and make the laws directly.
In a Republic, the people gather themselves into states, who then agree to work together on issues common to the subordinate states. Most issues in Republics are to be handled by the states.
With the decision by the Supreme Court that the Republic is not limited to the Powers granted it by the states, but rather that the Federal Government has no limits beyond those specifically enumerated, it dismissed the concept of the US as a Republic, and made us very much a Representative Democracy. However, it didn't also decide to eliminate the ability of the state legislatures to decide the Senators, nor to limit the authority of the Electoral Collage to determine the Presidency. In effect making the US a Representative Democracy, a Republic, and by eliminating their own limitations on power (which the decision mandates, otherwise they would not have had the authority to make the decision) an Oligarchy.
2006-11-22 11:16:51 · answer #2 · answered by Sage B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Democratic republic.
2006-11-22 11:10:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Republic.
2006-11-22 11:06:54 · answer #4 · answered by Perplexed 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Republic.
2006-11-22 11:04:22 · answer #5 · answered by hunterentertainment 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Democratic republic
2006-11-22 11:04:46 · answer #6 · answered by tcreede 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In the US? A republic.
2006-11-22 11:16:20 · answer #7 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We live in a republic... that's why we have checks and balances, 3 branches of government...
2006-11-22 11:11:24 · answer #8 · answered by Netta 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Faschist
2006-11-22 13:01:18 · answer #9 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
im presuming u are an american...
you have a democracy..thats also a republic.. i think..
2006-11-22 11:04:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋