Is your State a legal entity.

Personal Enquiry ^ | 10/14/01 | Janus

[janus]

This evening, while surfing the Internet, I happened upon a document; viz:The Constitution of The United States. Article IV; sec 4 of which states the following.

Article IV
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

I then checked a political dictionary to find what exactly a republic is and how it differs from a democracy. I found the following definitions

republic - the form of government in which ultimate power resides in the people, who elect representatives to participate in decision-making on their behalf. The head of state in a republic is usually an elected president-never a hereditary monarch. A republic is founded on the idea that every citizen has a right to participate, directly or indirectly, in affairs of state, and the general will of the people should be sovereign. The U.S. is a republic.

democracy - government by the people; the rule of the majority. There is no precise definition of democracy on which all could agree. Even communist countries tend to call themselves democratic, and the mere fact that a government is elected by a majority of the popular vote does not of itself guarantee a democracy. A broad definition might include the following points (based on Thomas R. Dye and L. Harmon Ziegler's book The Irony of Democracy): Participation by the mass of people in the decisions that shape their lives; government by majority rule, with recognition of the rights of minorities; freedom of speech, press, and assembly; freedom to form opposition political parties and to run for office; commitment to individual dignity and to equal opportunities for people to develop their full potential.

[janus]

So; the question is: What form of government do you have in your state?

[tbeatty]

Republic.

[goodieD]

here in kalifornia we are a socialist dictatorship run by one lunatic and a bunch of enviro-terrorists.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Hey! don't forget our real State Capitol is the People's Republic of Hollywood!

[goodieD]

I've been trying to forget that, sometimes I even pretend I live in another state entirely, one where if someone behaves like the celebs do, they just take em out behind the barn and kick the carp outta them.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

An example might help. Can you point to a non-contentious case of a democracy that is not a republic, just so we can be clear on how you're using the terms? Thanks in advance.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Believe me, I often pretend to live in another state - one where the people/celebs don't make fools of themselves and verify the ikd saying that Kalifornia is like a granola bar - full of nuts and ...

We're in NoCal too close to SanFran & Berkely...

[TheConservator]

Interestingly, the SCOTUS (long ago) ruled that this provision of the Constitution is "non-justiciable"--that is, is not subject to being enforced by the courts. Instead, the Court reasoned that this provision is directed to, and intended to be exclusively executed by, the Federal Executive and Legislative branches.

[spartan68]

What form of government do you have in your state?

MAINE = SOCIALIST

[beGlad]

I think socialism is more of an economic system than a political system.

I teach civics this year and our brand new textbooks don't even have the word "republic" in the index, glossary or text! Instead they use "representative democracy".

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"I teach civics". Maybe you could explain the distinction then? Again, non-contentious examples would help.

[beGlad]

I don't quite understand what you want me to explain. The difference between political and governmental systems? Or the difference between a republic and a representative democracy?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

The difference between a republic and a democracy would be a good start. And, since you brought it up, the difference between a representative democracy and other kinds, if there are any other kinds, would also be good to know. Thanks. I appreciate it.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

I assume you mean a country, India is a democracy. We all live in a Republic.

[spartan68]

I think socialism is more of an economic system than a political system.

You are correct, however, living in the #1 for taxes state, and the #4 in Welfare handouts,
couldn't resist posting Maine = Socialist...
And if I say what I really think about the way Maine has gone in the last 25 years, I'll get the thread pulled...

[wingnuts'nbolts]

During the 2000 elections the left began referring to our democracy. Hillary took up the cry, our democracy, this and that. Al Gore recently refered to us as a repulican democracy. Heads up!!!! Thier ajenda is doing away with the Electoral College, which would make us a democracy, mob rule! Be afraid,be very afraid. If you look at the blue and red map be aware that the blue would have won.

[beGlad]

Oh, o.k.

A democracy is a political system in which the citizens hold the power to rule and make the laws.

There are two kinds of democracy. Direct democracy - where all citizens, eliglible to vote, vote on every decision or law. Works o.k. in small populations such as ancient Athens.

A representative democracy (republic) is where citizens elect representatives to serve in the government.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Thanks. I get that. That's very clear. Now what's a republic and is it different from either of those and if so, how?

[beGlad]

You've got a good point about the electoral college. I've be teaching the importance of it to my 8th graders.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Is India not a republic? And if not, what are they missing that would make them a republic?