Note from Norm:
I for one, am sick
and tired of hearing our representatives and government officials call
the United States a democracy! Our forefathers loathed the
thought of a democracy. This is suppose to be a Republic, so this
page is to explain the difference. I don't remember who said it
but it goes something like this: The best example of a democracy is a
lynch mob, the only no vote hangs from the end of the rope.
The Difference Between A Republic and A Democracy
By Michael Ruiz
Constitution
for the United States of America , Article IV Section, 4. The United
States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form
of Government.
The United States was founded upon the principles of a Constitutional Republic . As the Constitution states we are guaranteed a Republican form of government. The nation is NOT a democracy republic and we should demand that our leaders, and ourselves, stop referring to the United States as such. The United States should be spreading "Constitutional Republicanism" throughout the world not democracy.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
"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 government." -Black's Law Dictionary 3rd Ed. p 1536.
Republic, Authority is derived through the election, by the people, of public officials best fitted to represent them. Attitude toward property is respect for laws and individual rights, and a sensible economic procedure. Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord with fixed principles and established evidence, with a strict regard to consequences. A greater number of citizens and extent of territory may be brought within its compass. Avoids the dangers of either tyranny or mobocracy. Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice, contentment and progress. -U.S. Army training manual, 1928
"Democracy, a government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meetings or any form of direct _expression, which results in mobocracy. Attitude towards property is communistic, negating property rights. Attitude towards the law is that the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demagoguism, license, agitation, discontent, and anarchy."-U.S. Army training manual 1928
What does that mean? Most people have been taught that the state is the government. But here Black's Law Dictionary says the state is independent from the government. In another place we find the word republic defined:
Republic - "A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens... A state or nation with a president as its titular head; distinguished from monarchy."
In this definition we see again that the supreme power is in the hands of the citizen-who is entitled to vote. The representatives are in charge of administrating the affairs of government. In the third definition it states that the singular executive is titular. Titular is defined as, "existing in the title or name only."
It should be obvious to the reader that the results democracy has had on our Republic for the last 80 years has seriously imperiled the survival of the nation.
Before we go farther it should be understood that in a republic a Freeman was free from civil authority. The word Republic was used in the Constitution because the Founders and separatists of the time knew its origins. It is a shortened form of the Latin idiom "Libera res Publica" meaning "free from things public." The heads of the government were "titular" in authority, meaning they held authority "in name only." In an indirect democracy the mob (majority) elects those that govern the whole, while in a republic elected representatives wield limited authority and they may not make laws except by the will of the people.
Samuel Adams stated, on August 1, 1770 within one month of the signing of the Declaration of Independence:
"Our Union is complete; our constitution composed, established, and approved. You are now the guardians of your own liberties. We may justly address you, as the decemviri did the Romans, and say:
"Nothing that we propose can pass into law without your consent. Be yourself, O Americans, the authors of those laws on which your happiness depends."
The sovereignty of a state does not reside in the persons who fill the different departments of its government, but in the People, from whom the government emanated; and only the People may change it at their discretion. Sovereignty, then, in this country, abides with the constituency, and not with the agent; and this remark is true, both in reference to the federal and state government.
"The United States government is a foreign corporation with respect to a state." 153/n re Merriam, 36 N.E. 505, 141N.Y. 479, affirmed 16S. Ct. 1073, 163 U.S. 625, 41 L.Ed 287; 20 CJS, Section 1785.
People of a state are entitled to all the rights which formerly belonged to the king by his prerogative. - Lansing v. Smith, 21 D. 89
Today the government is referenced as the United States Federal Democracy even though at the beginnings of government the word Republic was the title most sought and most used. Is there a difference? Of course there is. Everyone has seen the results of democracy:
1. The decline of morality
2. The decline of individual liberty
3. The demagoguery of political candidates
4. The licentious disregard for the law that is evidenced daily by government
officials
5. The discontent of the people for the political process
6. The abuses of federal agencies and bureaucracies against citizens
In a Democracy, the will of the majority outweighs the will of the few, or of the individual.
In a Republic, the will of the individual outweighs the will of the few, or of the majority.
In a Republic, the government cannot force you to give them anything that the Constitution does not give them the power to take.
In a Democracy, the government can take away anything that the "masses" decide is legitimate to remove.
A Republic finances itself through legitimate taxes and fees that were specifically spelled out in its Constitution.
A Democracy finances itself through illegitimate licenses, fees, fines, and other statutory penalties, as well as repressive progressive income taxes.
What exactly does this mean? It means that in a Democracy, whatever the masses decide is right or law, is right and the law for "everyone." Regardless if you like it or not, even if it tramples your right to own property or exercise your individual liberty. In a Republic, no individual or any majority or any group of people, no matter how large can supercede the rights of any single individual citizen.
It is also important to understand and embrace the idea that politicians hold office to serve the constituents that elected them. They cannot make new law unless the People they represent demand it. Politicians do not hold office to promote their own ideologies or to promote their own activist agendas. They are not there to vote their conscience, they are there to vote the will of their constituents. If we do not tell them how to vote they shall not vote. The reason that some of the representatives in the original colonies did not vote to become members in the United States is because their constituents did not tell them to vote one way or the other. That is the role of the politicians in a Republic and this is the role they must take if they are to fulfill their oaths of office and uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And if they falter in this Sacred Trust then they must be removed by election or by force.
We must retake and reestablish our right to liberty, self-governance and sovereignty before it is too late.
The United States was founded upon the principles of a Constitutional Republic . As the Constitution states we are guaranteed a Republican form of government. The nation is NOT a democracy republic and we should demand that our leaders, and ourselves, stop referring to the United States as such. The United States should be spreading "Constitutional Republicanism" throughout the world not democracy.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
"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 government." -Black's Law Dictionary 3rd Ed. p 1536.
Republic, Authority is derived through the election, by the people, of public officials best fitted to represent them. Attitude toward property is respect for laws and individual rights, and a sensible economic procedure. Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord with fixed principles and established evidence, with a strict regard to consequences. A greater number of citizens and extent of territory may be brought within its compass. Avoids the dangers of either tyranny or mobocracy. Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice, contentment and progress. -U.S. Army training manual, 1928
"Democracy, a government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meetings or any form of direct _expression, which results in mobocracy. Attitude towards property is communistic, negating property rights. Attitude towards the law is that the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demagoguism, license, agitation, discontent, and anarchy."-U.S. Army training manual 1928
What does that mean? Most people have been taught that the state is the government. But here Black's Law Dictionary says the state is independent from the government. In another place we find the word republic defined:
Republic - "A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens... A state or nation with a president as its titular head; distinguished from monarchy."
In this definition we see again that the supreme power is in the hands of the citizen-who is entitled to vote. The representatives are in charge of administrating the affairs of government. In the third definition it states that the singular executive is titular. Titular is defined as, "existing in the title or name only."
It should be obvious to the reader that the results democracy has had on our Republic for the last 80 years has seriously imperiled the survival of the nation.
Before we go farther it should be understood that in a republic a Freeman was free from civil authority. The word Republic was used in the Constitution because the Founders and separatists of the time knew its origins. It is a shortened form of the Latin idiom "Libera res Publica" meaning "free from things public." The heads of the government were "titular" in authority, meaning they held authority "in name only." In an indirect democracy the mob (majority) elects those that govern the whole, while in a republic elected representatives wield limited authority and they may not make laws except by the will of the people.
Samuel Adams stated, on August 1, 1770 within one month of the signing of the Declaration of Independence:
"Our Union is complete; our constitution composed, established, and approved. You are now the guardians of your own liberties. We may justly address you, as the decemviri did the Romans, and say:
"Nothing that we propose can pass into law without your consent. Be yourself, O Americans, the authors of those laws on which your happiness depends."
The
People are Sovereign
The sovereignty of a state does not reside in the persons who fill the different departments of its government, but in the People, from whom the government emanated; and only the People may change it at their discretion. Sovereignty, then, in this country, abides with the constituency, and not with the agent; and this remark is true, both in reference to the federal and state government.
"The United States government is a foreign corporation with respect to a state." 153/n re Merriam, 36 N.E. 505, 141N.Y. 479, affirmed 16S. Ct. 1073, 163 U.S. 625, 41 L.Ed 287; 20 CJS, Section 1785.
People of a state are entitled to all the rights which formerly belonged to the king by his prerogative. - Lansing v. Smith, 21 D. 89
Today the government is referenced as the United States Federal Democracy even though at the beginnings of government the word Republic was the title most sought and most used. Is there a difference? Of course there is. Everyone has seen the results of democracy:
1. The decline of morality
2. The decline of individual liberty
3. The demagoguery of political candidates
4. The licentious disregard for the law that is evidenced daily by government
officials
5. The discontent of the people for the political process
6. The abuses of federal agencies and bureaucracies against citizens
Simply
stated' the differences between a republican and democratic form of
government are:
In a Democracy, the will of the majority outweighs the will of the few, or of the individual.
In a Republic, the will of the individual outweighs the will of the few, or of the majority.
In a Republic, the government cannot force you to give them anything that the Constitution does not give them the power to take.
In a Democracy, the government can take away anything that the "masses" decide is legitimate to remove.
A Republic finances itself through legitimate taxes and fees that were specifically spelled out in its Constitution.
A Democracy finances itself through illegitimate licenses, fees, fines, and other statutory penalties, as well as repressive progressive income taxes.
What exactly does this mean? It means that in a Democracy, whatever the masses decide is right or law, is right and the law for "everyone." Regardless if you like it or not, even if it tramples your right to own property or exercise your individual liberty. In a Republic, no individual or any majority or any group of people, no matter how large can supercede the rights of any single individual citizen.
It is also important to understand and embrace the idea that politicians hold office to serve the constituents that elected them. They cannot make new law unless the People they represent demand it. Politicians do not hold office to promote their own ideologies or to promote their own activist agendas. They are not there to vote their conscience, they are there to vote the will of their constituents. If we do not tell them how to vote they shall not vote. The reason that some of the representatives in the original colonies did not vote to become members in the United States is because their constituents did not tell them to vote one way or the other. That is the role of the politicians in a Republic and this is the role they must take if they are to fulfill their oaths of office and uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And if they falter in this Sacred Trust then they must be removed by election or by force.
We must retake and reestablish our right to liberty, self-governance and sovereignty before it is too late.
=====
Reprinted with permission
from The Firing Line, September 2000 (one spelling correction) Credit
given to The Firing Line, California Rifle and Pistol Association,
Inc., and Michael Ruiz