For the both of you...whose ignorance I'm trying to cure.
From Conservapedia...Constitutional Republic
A Constitutional Republic is a state where the officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens.
A Constitutional Republic is the current form of government in the United States.
We really aren't in disagreement about anything other than whether Palin can reasonably use the term "democracy" to describe the United States.
The definition or applicability of the term "constitutional republic" does not preclude use of the words "democratic" or "federation", which also applies.
Please quote again the words that Palin used and what you believe she should have said. Let's see how comfortable you are with such a substitution.