Saturday, February 21, 2015

Constitutional Republic Vs Democracy, Differentiating Factors

By Olivia Cross


A democracy and a republic are likely to be used interchangeably but they have totally different meanings. The debate on constitutional republic vs democracy does not address the fundamental differences that exist. Democracies are regarded as governments based on popularity while republics still denote majority rule but accord significant rights to individuals.

The rights of individual citizens and powers of governments differentiate democracies from republics. It is an uncontested fact that the majority rule in both cases. However, it is the extent of power and relationship with minority that differentiates the two. Both systems allow citizens to determine their representatives into the government.

Democracies appear to give absolute right to the government of the day. This allows the majority rulers to alter the constitution or laws based on their desires. This means that as long as a majority government is in power, it has free will over all the citizens regardless of their political affiliation. This leaves the minority in a vulnerable position.

Republics have constitutions or charters that protect the certain rights from alteration or abuse. These rights are inalienable which means that the government of the day cannot violate them. This is one fundamental difference between the two systems of government. Pure democracies give free will to the reigning government which means over exposure of the minority.

The majority is omnipotent in democracies which allows them to exercise absolute power at the expense of minority. This bully attitude continues until the situation changes in favor of minority. Republics have restrictions aimed at restricting the oppressive tendencies of majority governments. The process of altering inalienable rights is constitutionally defined and must involve the masses.

Constitutions and charters guarantee sovereignty in different formats depending on whether a nation is a democracy or a republic. In democracies, the entire population holds sovereignty as a group. This paves way for the majority to determine the extent of rights. This system of governance traces its origin to Classical Athens.

In a republic, sovereignty belongs to an individual and cannot be taken away by a majority government. This system of government has its origin in Classical Rome and comes with three separate branches or arms of government. An example is what is practiced in the United States of America.

Democracies are either direct or representative. An individual is given the mandate by the larger population to represent their interests in an electorate body in cases of representative democracies. This means that the representative is considered as the voice of masses. This representative votes on issues with his voice and opinion being considered to be that of his electorates.

Power and decisions in direct democracies are in the hands of the people. This means that there are no representatives within the governance and law making systems. The ways of exercising direct democratic processes include referendums and voting. The people determine the issues what they want directly through a vote.

The rule of law that governs USA makes it a republic. There is a constitution or written law that governs representatives who must swear to abide by it. Most countries have democratic republics with certain segments of governance falling in different categories alternatively. The rights of individuals are protected yet the majority government has power over minority, though there are limits.




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