Until recently, Americans enjoyed a form of governance accurately described as a “constitutional republic.” Some use the term “democratic republic,” à la Baron de Montesquieu, whose work was the model for the United States Constitution, especially the architecture of three co-equal branches for the purpose of checks and balances. Notice, though, that “democratic republic” lacks the important descriptor, “constitutional.” This article cursorily explains why “constitutional” is so important and why Americans should stop using “democracy” in a favorable light when describing Americans’ form of governance.

The meanings of the following words are foundational to the arguments herein:

demos = “the common people,” especially of ancient Greece; aka “the populace;” and for purposes of this and other writings by this author, “The People”

crat (suffix) = an advocate or beholder of a theory of government

cracy (suffix) = “rule;” “rule by;” or “government”

republic = a state in which governance lies in representatives of the public

constitute = to set up, comprise, establish, or compose according to an express law or charter (der. constitution, constitutional)

Thus, “democracy” means “rule by The People,” or governed by The People, which may sound like a good idea at first thought.... However, a pure democracy, resulting in and from majority vote, results in nothing more than tyranny of the plurality (Thomas Aquinas) …” The People in total will be as one tyrant”

Democratic...means there are...aspects of "rule by The People" within the defined governance of the "republic."  In the United States...elections are democratic because The People elect, by majority vote within each district or state, representatives as expressly planned in the Constitution or in state Constitutions and statutes.

…the “Constitution,” as an express framework of law upon which the republic is formed, overrides the ebb and flow of the whims of The People over time.... the rights and freedoms of The People, under natural law, some of which are expressly enumerated in the Bill of Rights, cannot be subjugated from The People by majority vote, ergo, by democracy, or by majority vote of representatives.  The Constitution sits above “democratic” ideology.

Democracy is the antithesis of individual liberty because it inequitably tips the scales in favor of the public interest over individual liberty.

The People, as a plurality and majority, in a democracy, can be easily fooled into self-harm and if any individual sees truth and does not want to self-harm, then “the mob” of democracy will drag that individual off the cliff with them. This is manifest democracy.

Democracy is centralization of governance to the plurality, where the individuals outside the margins of collective thought lose rights and freedoms for the purported greater good, or popular fleeting whim, of society.

The U.S. republic flourishes when the ideas expressed in the Constitution are manifest.  Classical liberalism, libertarianism, Constitutionalism, and republicanism preclude a penchant for democracy. Communism, socialism, and fascism rely upon democracy to gain power. If the natural rights of the individual are not held above the public interest, then democracy wins, and the republic is lost.

Never said better. We must seek to be Constitutional Conservationists, and gradually restore Franklin’s republic.