Letter to the editor: We're a republic, not a democracy

Recent articles and cartoons have opined that our national government is a democracy and not a republic. Unfortunately they are wrong.

Article IV, Section 4: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

James Madison wrote in Federalist 39; “we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behavior. It is ESSENTIAL to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or a favored class of it; … It is SUFFICIENT for such a government that the persons administering it be appointed, either directly or indirectly, by the people; and that they hold their appointments by either of the tenures just specified.”

The word “democracy” does not appear in any of our founding documents for a reason; it ultimately empowers the majority to squash the minority. Our constitutional republic protects the minority from the majority.

A democracy at its core allows the mob to rule. It is unstable and prone to civil disorder. Remember that every time someone says that MAGA wants to destroy our democracy.

Dr. Bill Choby

Latrobe