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The people on this forum often mistake the government of the United States for a democracy.
Our government is not a democracy, it is a Constitutional Republic. There is a fundamental difference.
A democracy is simply mob rule, it's inherent flaws are too many to list here.
A Republic is a government based first and foremost on its Constitution.
The purpose of a Constitutional Republic is to place limits on the tyranny of the majority.
In recent years, many people have criticized the federal government for moving away from a Constitutional Republic, as defined by the Constitution, and towards a pure democracy.
Today we see a multi-faceted attack on the Constitution and the protections it affords.
Our forefathers established the Constitution in order to protect the individual citizen from the tyranny that they knew full well government imposes by its very nature.
Unless we return to the foundations of our government which is the Constitution, our fate is to be simply peasants living in Tyranny.
"A Republic, by definition, has two principle elements. First, it is controlled by Law; therefore, it does not control Law. Second, it recognizes the private independent sovereign nature of each person (man or woman) of competent age and capacity; therefore, a Republic must be representative in its nature.
A Republic recognizes Law is unchangeable, or at least that it can only be changed by a higher source than government. In a Republic the concept of “collective sovereignty” cannot exist, except with recognition that the State or nation, as a body of sovereigns, can speak through one elected voice; though that one voice can never lawfully interfere with the private rights of the individual sovereigns.
“A Constitutional Republic” is a government created and controlled, at least, by the Law of a Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America was, in Law, a foundation based on the Bible, the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence. Those documents recognize man’s sovereignty, the divine nature of man’s creation and man’s divine right to Life, Liberty, the means of acquiring and possessing Property, and the pursuit of happiness." - TeamLaw.org
We have a democratic republic, they aren't mutually exclusive terms. It is also why the founding fathers put in the ability to change the constitution.
This is a perfect example of the failures that happen in the educational system...as well as those who are too lazy to actually go to an encyclopedia in order to lean about a subject so they make things up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimhcom
Republic recognizes Law is unchangeable, or at least that it can only be changed by a higher source than government.
I also would like to know if a law cannot be changed in a republic except by a higher power, and the US is a republic, when did a higher power come down and change the laws like prohibition, slavery, and women's suffrage? There is no record of this event.
Last edited by EmeraldCityWanderer; 07-03-2013 at 08:16 AM..
That was just dumb. It's like asking "What's the difference between an animal and a mammal?"
Some republics are democracies. Some are not.
Our republic is a democracy.
There is a very distinct difference; a republic first and foremost respects the rights of the individual as is established in the Constitution. NO vote by the majority can abolish the rights of the individual and thereby protects the rights of the minorities. A simple democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner.
In the twilight years of the United States of America, it is apparent that not 1 in 100,000 Americans know of the Republican Form of government, nor can they define it.
It's a common mistake to assume "republic" = "republican form". But that is incorrect.
REPUBLIC - A commonwealth; That form of government in which the administration of affairs is open to all the citizens. In another sense, it signifies the state, independent of its form of government.
Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, P. 1302
A republic is not synonymous with a republican form of government.
The People's Republic of China is a republic but not a republican form.
REPUBLICAN FORM
GOVERNMENT (Republican Form of Government)- One in which the powers of sovereignty are vested in the people and are exercised by the people,... directly...
- - - Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, P. 695
DEMOCRATIC FORM
DEMOCRACY - That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy."
- - - Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, P. 432
The key distinguishing feature between a republican and democratic form is sovereignty.
In the republican form, the PEOPLE individually are sovereign and directly exercise that power.
In the democratic form, the "whole body of citizens" indirectly exercise it via representation. But in truth, democratic majorities override the individual, so no individual's rights are secure. And citizens are obligated to perform civic duties, so they are subjects - not sovereigns. And if you will please note, "republic" refers to the government whose administration is open to all citizens - which is certainly not a reference to sovereign people in a republican form.
What that boils down to, is that your inalienable rights to life, liberty and property ownership are secure, as your birthright - unless you surrender them. Unfortunately, most Americans have surrendered that which their forefathers fought and died to endow them with.
You cannot restore your status in the republican form of government, by participation in the democratic form. Nor can you restore surrendered rights by giving consent to their surrender.
Restating:
[] In the republican form of government, the people are sovereign, and directly exercise that sovereignty. They absolutely own private property. They are served by the government.
[] In the democratic form of government, the whole body of citizens indirectly exercise sovereignty. They do not absolutely own private property because they must register and pay taxes for the privilege to participate in democracy. They serve the government.
[] In the collectivist form of government, no one can absolutely own, and all things are government granted privileges. Each is obligated to work for the benefit of another, unless the bureaucracy wills otherwise.
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