Young Christian Leaders' Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions on the Nature of American Republicanism

By R. Josiah Magnuson, YCLA President

The following post is the first in a series.  Note that the phrase "constitutional republican" does not denote a political party affliation, but rather a set of principles which we believe agree with those expressed by the Founders of the United States.  The ideas expressed in these posts have become the opinion of the author after much historical and philosophical research.

Democracy and Republican Forms of Government

Q. What is a republic?

A. A republic consists of two defining elements: the fact that the government is limited by law, existing only to protect the rights of its citizens, and the fact that the government is elected and accountable so that it will abide by that law.

Q. What is a democracy?                         

A. A democracy consists of the absolute rule of the majority of the people. A democracy is not based on the existence of individual rights.

Next Post: The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes.