Thursday 26 February 2015

The Distinguishing Factor, Constitutional Republic Vs Democracy

By Olivia Cross


It is common to have a republic and democracy used interchangeably despite there being fundamental differences. In a constitutional republic vs democracy debate, fundamental issues distinguishing these two forms must be explained. While republics accord citizens fundamental rights that cannot be alienated, democracies rely on the whims of the majority in total disregard of minority wish.

It is the interaction between government powers and the rights of individuals that differentiates republics from democracies. The fact that it is majority who exercise power in both cases is not contested. The effect this power and rights have on the minority differentiates these two government systems. In both cases, there is representation into the government.

Absolute power is held by the government in democracies. They determine the rights that will be accorded to individuals and can change the constitution to suit their wishes. This leaves the minority in the country vulnerable until a certain point where they form the government as the majority or join the majority group in a coalition.

There are restrains put in place during formulation of republics. The minority cannot be oppressed because certain rights are inalienable. This is a notable difference when one wants to understand how democracies differ from republics. The level of exposure facing minority groups in democracies does not exist in republics.

Democracies allow rule by omnipotent majority. This gives them the power to impose their will upon the minority unlike in republics where there are restrictions. The rights of citizens in republics are changeable through a consultative approach that leads to voting.

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.

Republics follow a different system where individuals have inalienable rights. Even majority governments cannot take away these rights. This form of government traces it roots to Classical Rome with characteristic three arms of government. This is the system that USA has adopted.

Democracies come in two forms, direct and representative. The mandate of an individual is taken by a representative who forms part of an elected body in representative democracies. He is the voice of his electorates and therefore will purport to vote based on their wish. He also gives an opinion that is said to represent his electorates.

Direct democracies operate in a different way. Each individual has a say in decision making on issues. This means that the masses make laws and determine government policies directly. A perfect example of this way of doing things is by voting or participating in referendums.

The existence of rule of law in US makes it a republic. It has a written law or constitution that guides representatives on how to act. This trend has been adapted in many nations with slight variations. The mixture of the two systems can be seen in cases where government hold powers to a certain extent while the populace also has a say on certain issues.




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