What is the Difference Between a Republic and a Democracy?

Here are a few links that answer the question.  This entry will be updated from time to time. 
1. The Liberty Book
2. Lex Rex.Com
3. Capitalism Magazine
4. Walter E. Williams of World Net Daily gives this statement. 
5. Citizens for a Constitutional Republic have this to say.

What is Democracy?

In his book, The Spirit of Democracy, Larry Diamond takes on this question.  He says that democracy can be defined in two ways–one thin and the other thick.  The thin or minimal definition states that a democracy exists in a country when political decisions are made by means of regular, “free and fair” elections.  But if you want to go with the thick or maximal definition, a system is not a real democracy unless it has the following attributes:

(1) “Substantial individual freedom of belief, opinion, discussion, speech, publication, broadcast, assembly, demonstration, petition, and (why not)the Internet.”
(2) “Freedom of ethnic, religious, racial, and other minority groups (as well as historically excluded majorities) to practice their religion and culture and to participate equally in political and social life.”
(3) “The right of all adult citizens to vote and to run for office (if they meet certain minimum age and competency requirements).”
(4) “Genuine openness and competition in the electoral arena, enabling any group that adheres to constitutional principles to form a party and contest for office.”
(5) “Legal equality of all citizens under a rule of law, in which the laws are ‘clear, publicly known, universal, stable, and nonretroactive.’”
(6) “An independent judiciary to neutrally and consistently apply the law and protect individual and group rights.”
(7) “Thus, due process of law and freedom of individuals from torture, terror, and justified detention, exile, or interference in their personal lives–by the state or nonstate actors.”
(8 ) “Institutional checks on the power of elected officials, by an independent legislature, court system, and other autonomous agencies.”
(9) “Real pluralism in sources of information and forms of organization independent of the state; and thus, a vibrant ‘civil society.’”
(10) “Control over the military and state security apparatus by civilians who are ultimately accountable to the people through elections.”

In view of these ten points, Diamond says that we should aspire to a fuller manifestation of democracy.  When these ten factors exist, “we can call a system a liberal democracy.  To the extent that these are greatly diminished, democracy–if it exists at all–is illiberal.”  But if “there are regular, multiparty elections and other formal institutions of democracy like a national assembly, court system, constitution, and so on, but the people are not able to vote their leaders out of power because the system is, in effect, rigged, then the country has what I call pseudodemocracy” (p.23).

The Western Distinctive(s)

“All civilizations go through similar processes of emergence, rise, and decline.  The West differs from other civilizations not in the way it has developed but in the distinctive character of its values and institutions.  These include most notably its Christianity, pluralism, individualism, and rule of law, which made it possible for the West to invent modernity, expand throughout the world, and become the envy of other societies.” — Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, p.311.

Is It Possible?

“Is it possible to build free and democratic societies throughout the world?  Doing so must involve more than the creation of new political structures; it requires the generation of new norms, as Gandhi put it, ‘change of heart.’  Democratic structures will be mere facades unless people come to value the essential principles of democracy: popular sovereignty, accountability of rulers, freedom, and rule of law.  And without those essential principles in place, those seeming democracies will eventually give way to tyranny, whether in civilian or military guise.” — Larry Diamond, The Spirit of Democracy, p. 20.

That Basic Thesis

There is nothing more appropriate on the birthday of this nation to remember the basic thesis on which it was founded: 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” (For rest of the text, read here)

I hope that all Americans will continue to be thankful to the Lord God for the rights they enjoy; and along with that, to pursue them for one another wherever they are denied.  May the United States of America continue to be the emblem and champion of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Happy Fourth everyone.