The key difference between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed on government by the law, which has implications on minority rights. Both forms of government use a representational system where citizens vote to elect politicians to represent their interests and form the government. However, in a republic, a constitution or charter of rights protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government. In a pure democracy, the majority is not restrained and can impose its will on the minority. (ex. Gay marriage, school segregation until 1954, women’s right to vote, etc.)

 

¢Democracy is ruled by the omnipotent majority. In a Democracy, an individual, and any group of individuals composing any minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of the majority..

¢A Republic is  a constitutionally limited government, of the representative type, created by a written Constitution--adopted by the people and changeable by them only by its amendment--with its powers divided between three separate branches of government. Minority rights are protected (ex. Bill of Rights)  Classical Rome 

 

¢PROMPT:  Based on the above information, is the USA a true democracy or a republic or a mix of the two?  Write a thesis statement (claim, opinion, argument)  and support it.  Choose 3 aspects of a Democracy or Republic and support it with evidence/examples from what you know about the USA

examples:
1.The USA is a mixture of republic and democracy.  The laws that are passed have to be according to the constitution, and citizens can also vote which laws we want to support.
2. The USA is a mix of a democracy and a republic, but more like a republic because it have more characteristics, such as a constitution.
3. The USA is a mix of a democracy and republic because we are still not able to have equality even though our rights explain that we can.
4. The USA is a blend of democracy and republic ideas, but the rights of the minority are always protected by the Bill of Rights or the Supreme Court.
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