We’re a republic, which is a form of democracy; namely, a representative democracy. I see the confounding continues... The Federalist Papers : No. 14 I remark here only that it seems to owe its rise and prevalence chiefly to the confounding of a republic with a democracy, applying to the former reasonings drawn from the nature of the latter. The true distinction between these forms was also adverted to on a former occasion. It is, that in a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region.
37 posted on 09/15/2007 1:05:31 AM PDT by philman_36