is it really democracy when we select a person to lead, but that person gets to choose whoever they want to lead them....are we voting for the person or their cabinet?
2007-12-29 16:41:23 · 9 answers · asked by zacpac11 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
thats a very good question and we should think about who our president will or might pick
2007-12-29 16:46:35 · answer #1 · answered by hmm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are a constitutional republic.
We just elect the president and other office positions. After that, they call the shots. Sometimes, we might not even get who we want.
Have you ever heard of the Electoral College? When you vote(that is the popular vote), you get an elector(something you are never really told). Now that elector is supposed to cast his/her vote in the favor of the majority. That is why popular and electoral votes usually coincide. These people don't always do that. They may vote in their preference. These "faithless electors" can be fined a fortune.
Now there are 538 electors. (435 for the House+100 for Congress+3 for Washington D.C.) To find the number in your state, take the number of representatives in your state, and add two for the Congress. If you live in Washington D.C., you have 3. You need 271 electors to win the presidency.
About the whole Bush fiasco, I used to believe that he rigged the election, until I found a website that explained the whole voting process better (Wikipedia was to "scholarly" with all the terminology). Now, although I don't like the way that he handled things, I believe that he may have won the election fair and square. Bush-271 to Gore's-266 leaving Ralphie boy the leftovers.
Now, there is a major difference between a "democracy" and a "constitutional republic".
Democracy- "demos"-people "kratein"-to rule.
To rule by the people.
Constitution- A system that establishes the rules and principles that monitor a political power.
Republic- A system of government in which the people elect representatives. Mind you "Republic" is found in the names of totalitarian regimes.
Note Wikipedia's definition of republic: A republic is a state or country that is not led by a hereditary monarch, where the people of that state or country (*OR AT LEAST A PART OF THAT PEOPLE*)have impact on its government and that is *USUALLY* indicated as a republic.
Now if you string that together using my definition..." A codified system that monitors a political system elected by the people. That is drastically different from..."A system run by the people."
2007-12-29 16:48:08 · answer #2 · answered by Damasta AM inductee 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The founders of this nation had a justified fear of democracy. Their intent was to set up a republic, with only the Representatives in the House elected by the public. The President was intended to be selected by an independent electoral college selected by the states and Senators were to be chosen by the states.
It seems like more than a few people have gotten things mixed up.
2007-12-29 16:54:34 · answer #3 · answered by John H 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The U.S. is a broadly based republic. People know that the elected leader will chose advisers e.g. the cabinet. People elect a leader based on watch they think of his judgment. That would include the judgment in selecting a cabinet. No one can do the job alone. By modern definition we are a democracy.
2007-12-29 16:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by hamrrfan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, go on the CIA website, we are a republic, because in a democracy every person would be able to vote on everything, so when you vote you are voting for what the person stands for because they will likely choose similar people to make up their cabinet, so no it isn't democracy
2007-12-29 16:46:42 · answer #5 · answered by Fashionista 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
America is not a Democracy. It is a Republic. We elect representatives who represent us. The founding fathers were against the U.S. being a true democracy.
Pledge of Allegiance:
"and to the Republic for which it stands"
U.S. constitution:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a *** Republican *** Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"
( Article 4 Section 4 )
How did Madison distinguish between a democracy and a republic
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071127180555AAG7zCS
2007-12-29 16:45:47 · answer #6 · answered by a bush family member 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lets hope not. Democracy is mob rule which means the majority can do what ever they want to the minority. That means you have zero rights.
The rule of law means the power of government is limited by law and regardless of what the majority wants to do there are limits. This means you have rights than the majority cannot take away from you.
Who in his right mind would choose democracy over the rule of law.
2007-12-29 16:54:07 · answer #7 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Think of DEMOCRACY as an incorporated blanket placed over our Constitutional Representative Republic. Our DEMOCRACY needs to be retooled.
2007-12-29 16:52:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
did you know that we didn't even used to vote for president? congress did
2007-12-29 16:48:27 · answer #9 · answered by AmericanPatriot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋