ThaWilsonBlock Magazine

When people say “we live in a democracy,” they’re not wrong—but they’re not entirely right either. The United States is, by design, a constitutional republic , not a direct democracy. This distinction might seem academic or trivial, but understanding it helps clarify why our government works the way it does—and why it often feels like the system doesn’t reflect the popular will. Let’s start with definitions. A democracy is broadly understood as a system in which power resides with the people, often through direct votes on laws and policies. In a republic , on the other hand, citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf, guided by a foundational legal document—like our Constitution. The U.S. Constitution itself never mentions the word “democracy.” Instead, Article IV, Section 4 guarantees every state a “ republican form of government .” Our Founding Fathers were explicit in their intent. They feared the potential instability of direct democracy. In Federalist No. ...