Simple Civics
What type of Government does the US have?
2/3/2025 | 1m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Online you may see arguments that the United States isn't a democracy. Are these claims valid?
Democracy is a principle that speaks to the spirit of America. As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “We are a nation of the people, by the people, for the people.” But you might have heard some argue that the US is actually a republic. In this episode of Simple Civics we breakdown the differences and similarities between these two forms of government.
Simple Civics
What type of Government does the US have?
2/3/2025 | 1m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Democracy is a principle that speaks to the spirit of America. As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “We are a nation of the people, by the people, for the people.” But you might have heard some argue that the US is actually a republic. In this episode of Simple Civics we breakdown the differences and similarities between these two forms of government.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipDemocracy is a principle that speaks to the spirit of America.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said “We are a nation of the people,” “by the people, for the people.” But online, you might have heard things like “America isn't a democracy,” “it's a republic!” What's going on?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary d a democracy as a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them, directly or indirectly, through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections In the United States we obviously use a form of indirect democracy, as we all vote for candidates who are expected to fight for our values.
However, the idea of direct democracy does live on in some states in the form of ballot initiatives.
A republic.
On the other hand, is defined as a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote, and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.
Another term for this type of government is representative democracy.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Whatever you call it, these are all describing the same thing.
So the next time someone asks if America is a democracy or a republic, you can answer with a resounding yes!
