Difference Between Democracy and Republic

By definition, a democracy is a type of government that is determined by the will of the majority, and a republic is an elected form of governance that is governed in accordance with a charter, or constitution. Despite the fact that people frequently confuse these types of government, they are very different. The key difference between a republic and a democracy is in the constitution or charter, which places restrictions on authority in a republic and frequently serves to defend individual liberties from the will of the majority.

What is a Democracy

A democracy is a form of government where the people, or the society as a whole, have the authority to make laws. A narrow definition of democracy is one in which the people choose their leaders through free and fair elections; more comprehensive definitions associate democracy with the protection of human rights and civil liberties besides free and fair elections. Democracy can be broadly classified into two types, direct democracy, and representative democracy.

Direct Democracy

A pure direct democracy, also known as a pure democracy, is one in which the people make laws and policies directly through voting. It requires widespread public engagement in politics.

Representative Democracy

Representative democracy is a form of indirect democracy in which the people's representatives hold power. It is the most prevalent form of democracy in the world. It is of two types.

• Liberal Democracy: A liberal democracy is a representational democracy that upholds the rule of law, defends individual rights and liberties, and places restrictions on the authority of elected officials.
• Illiberal Democracy: A representative democracy that places few or no restrictions on the elected officials' ability to rule as they choose is known as an illiberal democracy.

What is Republic

A republic (derived from the Latin phrase 'res publica', which means 'the public thing') is a type of government in which a country's social and political issues are viewed as 'public matters', and the authority to rule rests with the representatives of citizens. In a republic, citizens choose representatives who create laws and an executive who implements them. Republics differ from direct democracies in that representatives chosen by the people rule the state. All modern representative democracies are thus republics. In addition to democratic countries, oligarchies, aristocracies, and monarchies where the succession of the head of state isn't determined by heredity can also be considered republics.

Constitutions in Republics

The most important aspect of a republic is its constitution, which empowers it to interpret and, if necessary, reject laws passed by the elected representatives of the citizens in order to safeguard the minority will of the majority. Although those who are in the majority retain influence over the election of representatives, a constitution lists and protects some fundamental rights, shielding the minority from the capricious political vagaries of the majority.

Difference Between Democracy and Republic

Key differences between a democracy and a republic are discussed in the following table.

Conclusion

Although democracy and republic empower their citizens to choose their representatives, they are very different. A democracy is a type of government determined by the will of the majority, while a republic is an elected form of governance governed by a charter or constitution. What distinguishes a republic from a democracy is its constitution, which empowers a republic to interpret and, if necessary, reject laws passed by the elected representatives of the citizens to defend individual liberties from the will of the majority.