What is a Republic?

Are you confused about whether America is a democracy or a republic? Are you confused about how places like North Korea and China that are not democratic can be called republics? In this video we’re gonna find out about what a republic is, how it works and what it means in relation to democracy. Finally we’re gonna find out whether America is a republic or a democracy, or both.

Where you can find me!

The first thing to say about republics is that they are often defined in relation to their opposite- monarchies. This makes it quite difficult to define Republics in isolation- but I’m going to try to do it anyway! Firstly, monarchies or autocratices, are systems in which countries are ruled by a hereditary head of state like a king or a queen, and power is passed down through a royal family. Conversely, in republics, the head of state is an elected representative of the population. I would thus argue that because of this necessity of an elected representative, it means that republics are also democracies. They are not mutually exclusive.

A democracy is simply a country which has free and fair elections for representatives of the people, and they then make the decisions in government on the people’s behalf- most republics have all of this and an elected head of state. So to repeat in my opinion republics are by definition democratic. Here’s a quick example if you’re getting confused. So for example, the UK is a constitutional monarchy, it has an unelected queen but also elected mps who make decisions in the UK’s parliament, which is the real centre of power- France on the other hand is a republic and has an elected President but also deputes who sit in the national assembly. One country has a hereditary Queen, and is a monarchy, the other has an elected President and is a republic, but they are both democracies.

Now you might be saying hold up, if republics are also democracies, then how can dictatorships like China and North Korea be called Republics. To this I would say- they are not really republics. They are only republics in a relative sense, if you were talking about say Norway and China you would say Norway is a monarchy and China a republic. I don’t think it would be fruitful to talk about China as a republic in its own right because that implies China has the whole package that I’ve just spoken about, Does it have an elected head of state no not really, only the communist party gets to vote on its chairman, does it have elections of local representatives no. To summarise a republic is a democratic system of government with elected representatives, and an elected head of state.

So, if we apply my theory to the USA, we can see that it is a democracy, and a republic.
There is an elected head of state yes, but also free and fair elections. Some have argued that America cannot be a democracy because the founders set it up to not be majoritarian, However this forgets one important thing- democracy exists on a continuum, with majoritarianism, or direct democracy at one end, and quasi dictatorships at the other end. The founders wanted america to be in the middle between these two systems, and that’s why the constitution includes plenty of checks and balances on majority rule, to make it a representative democracy.

[libertycoffeehouse]

A Republic is not the same as a democracy. Democracy is majority rule. A Republic is a form of government where the law (contract or agreement) protects the citizens right to life, liberty, and property. It is by agreement or contract. According to Cicero a democracy, aristocracy or monarchy could be a Republic if there was a contract or agreement to protect life liberty and property among the citizens. Cicero believed a mixed government would be the best form of Republic. The majority common people and the minority wealthy group would check each other. Democracy and a Republic or at odds with each other. Most uneducated people think a democracy is the best form of government, however, it is the worst form. The masses are uneducated on economics and diplomacy and our prone to passion. An aristocracy always transcends into oligarchy while democracy transcends into mobocracy. Thus majority rule is risky as well as minority rule. The United States is a Federation. It was conceived partly to curtail democracy at the state level. Each state was is a County that delegated external affairs to the general government while retaining control over internal affairs. Today the US constitution is no longer being followed and it's citizens are no longer knowledgeable of their form of government and why it was superior.

[Moon]

So what is Republic actually?

Dude in the video: Repuclic = Democracy
Me: Wut????

[KravMike]

And to the “Republic” for which it stands

[crw]

Democracies have 1 to 1 voting or majority rule. Republics have elected representatives. They are NOT the same thing but they share similarities.

[Zaela_Zhezzaia]

you really should watch the video "A Republic, Not A Democracy by Dan Smoot 1966 Apr 18" This explains the differences of the two and why we should not call America a Democracy.

[sassykassy]

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

[frequencyoftruth]

In otherwords you don't know the true history of a Republic or explained what it means in the us with the constitution.

[sassykassy]

No sir you have been mis informed. If 5 men catch a robber and 4 want to kill him 1 says no the robber dies.
Now if a elected sheriff pulls up a and says the robber has the RIGHT to a trial where all 12 must agree on the fate of the robber. That my dear is a republic

[blairhawkins]

Democracy= rule by the one At-Large district. Republic= rule by minority districts. America --- the federal govt -- is a republic (no use of the At-Large although some want to convert Electoral College from republic to democracy). Democracy= 4 wolves & 3 sheep elect 7 wolves to decide what's for dinner. Republic= 4 wolves & 3 sheep elect 4 wolves & 3 sheep to decide what's for dinner. According to founding fathers.... A majority of electeds should represent the majority of voters. A minority of electeds should represent the minority of voters. In a democracy only the majority is represented but everyone votes.

[frankbarbina]

The republic is a philosophy that was created and believed in ancient Rome in which many thoughts and theories were voiced and questioned such as what is" good "and what is "bad" and when does good stop being good and become bad and when does bad stop being bad and become good. Plato wrote multiple books on this philosophical understanding of life and Rome built on it. What you are describing is the government that was "built" on this philosophical viewpoint but you are not explaining what a "republic" truly is. Your just explaining a government system that was created based on that viewpoint. says...WRONG!😂 your title should be "what is a "republic government "

[Warrior]

Bruh this guy is from a monarchy country, we are not a democracy.We fought the British and established a Republic with our own constitution.

[thomasdearment]

At last, someone who knows what he's talking about A plus square

[americaisacontinent.]

So what is a Republic because this isn't it??

[TheLeonidas]

Your video is useless. The USA is a Republic and not a true democracy. It’s not one man one vote. Also in the pledge of allegiance to the US flag we pledge to the Republic. The pledge of allegiance makes it clear.

[claiborneeastjr]

The US is not a democracy. It is a Constitutional Representative Federal Republic. We elect 535 people to Congress who in turn pass legislation that governs our lives. Laws must be signed by the Executive Branch (a veto can be overridden by 2/3 vote in each house), and - eventually - ruled on by the Judicial Branch. Only a few ancient Greek city states (e.g. Athens) came somewhat close to being an actual democracy. As far as "republics" like NK and China, calling themselves republics doesn't make it so. They are autocracies/oligarchs.

[athomft]

Is the USA the only country that uses the electoral college system?

[mcwane]

More research into this topic from early Greek history Ronan, over the centuries, before you describe these two as EQUALS ...
REALLY LAME, , not ralking about horses !!!

[jeremyhennessee]

"before we start, why
don't you hit the subscribe
button and like for
more great content?"

People generally click
like and subscribe on
something after they've
viewed it.

Because one can't really
determine whether they l
ike/dislike something before
experiencing it firsthand
then making a consensus of
it.
*
Other than that very small
confusion, great video man.
Informative, concise, and
easy to follow.

Personally agreeable premise
as well.

I'd share it.

(now ill subscribe.)

[greg_austin]

In the US Constitutional Republic SCOTUS reigns supreme, and nothing is democratic about that.

[hussienmohammed]

Have you even read 'The Republic'??
What a nonsense are trolling!!