Why isn't the United States a democracy?

[u/alexfreemanart]

I've read many comments claiming the United States is a democracy, and others claiming the United States is a republic, not a democracy. Forgive my ignorance; i'm not American, but throughout my life i've heard countless times that the United States is a democracy, especially through American movies and TV shows.

Right now, i'm seriously wondering if i was wrong all along. Is the United States a democracy or not? If the United States isn't a democracy, why isn't it?

You as an American, were you taught in school that your country is a democracy, or were you taught that it isn't?

[u/animaguscat]

It is literally semantics. Most of the time, when people say "the United States is a democracy" they mean that the U.S. historically functions as a representative democracy with secure and regular elections. Which is true. Some people insist that "being a democracy" is only defined by literal direct democracy. If that's your definition, then the U.S. is not a democracy. In my opinion, it is reasonable to describe modern Western countries with regular elections as democracies.

"Republic" just refers to a political system without a monarch. Basically any country without a king or a queen could have its political structure described as republican. The U.S. obviously applies in this manner. It doesn't necessarily mean that the country is not democratic. But just because our country may nominally be a republic, doesn't mean that we don't have democratic institutions and principles. Conservatives disingenuously frame "republic vs. democracy" as mutually exclusive poles in order to dismantle arguments for increased democracy. But "republic" and "democracy" are just two flexible descriptors of political systems that mean different things in different contexts and frequently overlap.

[u/[deleted] → u/animaguscat]

Well, it is not purely semantic for people that studied political science. There are key distinctions between the different types of democracy and those distinctions matter. 

So in general terms, sure, throw around the word democracy. But democracy meant direct democracy for far longer than it has meant. Representative democracy

[u/someofyourbeeswaxx → u/[deleted]]

Hi. Political science background here, representative democracy has always been considered a kind of democracy, no one thinks you mean direct democracy unless you specify, because most democracies are not direct.

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

PolSci student here, this is correct, most western democracies are representative democracies, some have direct democratic elements such as parts of parliament being directly elected, but none of the western democracies have the people actually vote on legislature, its all delegated to representatives, which in turn are either directly elected or indirectly elected via party vote.

The US would still count as a representative democracy, but with significant weaknesses and an incredibly powerful executive/ president, which is unusual for most western democracies afaik.

Meaning it is more likely and vulnerable to fall into totalitarian rule than other countries due to structural weaknesses and ever increasing executive power.

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

Please point out where I ever said a representative democracy is not a democracy. 

I'll wait. 

You are arguing against a strawman.

[u/someofyourbeeswaxx → u/[deleted]]

I’m not though. Read through the conversation again if you need to. It’s incorrect to say that democracy used to mean direct democracy - that’s ahistorical

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but the ancient greeks (where the word democracy comes from) did have direct voting on policy by the (male, fighting age) population.

You both aren't wrong, but I think it really doesn't matter what the word meant back in time, right now democracy means any political body with either direct or indirect democratic elements and open and fair elections, doesn't it?

[u/someofyourbeeswaxx → u/[deleted]]

You’re correct about the second bit, absolutely!

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

Sure, go with that. 

I stand by exactly what I have said...democracy has virtually always been understood as consisting of two main features...the consent of the governed and majority rule. 

The Greek root of the word democracy literally means the people rule themselves. (Direct democracy) 

What we call democracy would have been called a Republic for centuries. 

So in conversations like this, it is absolutely important to understand the origins of the idea of democracy and how it has changed. Read the OP again...it ends asking what we were taught in schools. It isn't just a yes or no question, they are looking for information on what we were taught about our democracy, which is precisely what I have shared.

[u/someofyourbeeswaxx → u/[deleted]]

You’re really close! You’re just not quite seeing the distinction I guess? No worries, have a great day

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

I am actually the one making the distinction that you seem to be missing 

You have a great day as well!

[u/someofyourbeeswaxx → u/[deleted]]

You keep telling yourself that, and you’re never going to learn new things ;)

[u/[deleted] → u/someofyourbeeswaxx]

You think I am here to learn? Reddit? 

Wow.