Is the USA a democracy or a republic?
If my understanding is correct, a democracy is a system of government in which the populace votes directly on issues. A republic is a system of government in which the populace elects a body of representatives who are the ones that decide issues.
I see both methods at work in the US Government. Voters are given the opportunity to vote on individual issues, and voters can also elect representatives who decide issues.
So which is the USA: a democracy or a republic?
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The federal govt is a republic. I don't remember any federal issues being put out for citizen voting.
All issues are decided by the House and Senate.
Some states have a very limited version of direct democracy.
Its a misconception that America is a democracy. The U.S. elects people to represent them on these issues, which is Congress, Senate, and the President. The U.S. is a Republic, the U.S. could have never been a successful Democracy because of its large population and spanning geography.
Republic - An easy way to remember this is to think of the Pledge of Allegiance:
"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."
Well. We're a lot of things. A federation of democratic republics is what I'd say.
a republic because we follow the Rule of law where as a democracy is mob rule
Polyarchy