[CLRGuy]

>Article IV, section 4, "The United
>States shall guarantee to
>every State in this Union a
>Republican Form of Government..."

Still don't see how this debunks my argument, I think you have misinterpreted the clause.

I see the US government establishing in the constitution that the federal government will allow a "Republican" form of government. Maybe I misunderstand the intent here, but I see this as a guarantee to the states, not a requirement of them. It even uses the words "guarantee to" not "require of", which is what I would expect if your argument were correct.

[Melas]

see the US government establishing in the constitution that the federal government will allow a "Republican" form of government. Maybe I misunderstand the intent here, but I see this as a guarantee to the states, not a requirement of them. It even uses the words "guarantee to" not "require of", which is what I would expect if your argument were correct You're confusing yourself unnecessarily. Think for a moment, how can you have a theocracy, if you have to let your citizens vote for their representatives? Which you must, in order to guarantee the other states a Republican form of government. Since a Republican form of government is contingent upon all states in the untion being Republican, all states must be Republican. What an interesting theocracy it would be if the high priest got to make all the laws, but had to let everyone over 18 (as prescribed by the constitution: 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments) vote for federal office holders. Sorry, having fun poking holes in this. The truth is that Constitution was meant to apply to the states where applicable as well. It was never even dreamed of that a state could deny you the right to face your accusers, hold you without cause, be tried by a jury, or be deprived of life or liberty without due process.