Posted by Melmac on November 15, 2000 at 21:31:10:
In Reply to: Is the USA democratic ? posted by Mike on November 15, 2000 at 20:59:19:
Definitions "snipped" from Merriam Webster's Dictionary:
Republic : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.
Democracy : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
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Here in brief, is the difference;
In a democracy, the governing power is held directly by the people, in a Republic, the power of governing is transferred to elected officials and the people have little say, except in being given a choice (often limited) of candidates they can vote for, to represent them.
Definitions courtesy of Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary