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{{Short description|Form of government}}
{{Short description|Form of government}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{republicanism sidebar}}
A '''democratic republic''' is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a [[republic]] and a [[democracy]]. As a cross between two similar systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.
A '''democratic republic''' is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a [[republic]] and a [[democracy]]. As a cross between two similar systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.


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* ''Republic'': "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/republic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042207/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/republic|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2017|title=republic {{!}} Definition of republic in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>
* ''Republic'': "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/republic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042207/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/republic|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2017|title=republic {{!}} Definition of republic in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>
* ''Democracy'': "A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/democracy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217184030/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/democracy|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2016|title=democracy {{!}} Definition of democracy it English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>
* ''Democracy'': "A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/democracy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217184030/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/democracy|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2016|title=democracy {{!}} Definition of democracy it English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>
[[Eugene Volokh]] of the [[UCLA School of Law]] notes that the United States exemplifies the varied nature of a constitutional republic{{Mdash}}a country where some decisions (often local) are made by direct democratic processes, while others (often federal) are made by democratically elected representatives.<ref name="volokh">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/05/13/is-the-united-states-of-america-a-republic-or-a-democracy/|title=Is the United States of America a republic or a democracy?|last=Volokh|first=Eugene|date=2015-05-13|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> As with many large systems, US governance is incompletely described by any single term. It also employs the concept, for instance, of a [[constitutional republic]] in which a court system is involved in matters of [[jurisprudence]].<ref name="volokh" />
[[Eugene Volokh]] of the [[UCLA School of Law]] observes that the United States exemplifies the varied nature of a constitutional republic{{Mdash}}a country where some decisions (often local) are made by direct democratic processes, while others (often federal) are made by democratically elected representatives.<ref name="volokh">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/05/13/is-the-united-states-of-america-a-republic-or-a-democracy/|title=Is the United States of America a republic or a democracy?|last=Volokh|first=Eugene|date=2015-05-13|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> As with many large systems, US governance is incompletely described by any single term. It also employs the concept, for instance, of a [[constitutional republic]] in which a court system is involved in matters of [[jurisprudence]].<ref name="volokh" />


As with other democracies, not all persons in a democratic republic are necessarily citizens, and not all citizens are necessarily entitled to vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Characteristics of Democratic Republic|url=http://www.governmentvs.com/en/democratic-republic-definition/model-41-11|website=Government VS|publisher=softUsvista Inc}}</ref> [[Suffrage]] is commonly restricted by criteria such as [[voting age]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usa.gov/voter-registration-age-requirements|title=Voter Registration Age Requirements by State|website=USA.gov|access-date=December 3, 2017}}</ref> and sometimes by [[felony]] or imprisonment status.
As with other democracies, not all people in a democratic republic are necessarily citizens, and not all citizens are necessarily entitled to vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Characteristics of Democratic Republic|url=http://www.governmentvs.com/en/democratic-republic-definition/model-41-11|website=Government VS|publisher=softUsvista Inc}}</ref> [[Suffrage]] is commonly restricted by criteria such as [[voting age]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usa.gov/voter-registration-age-requirements|title=Voter Registration Age Requirements by State|website=USA.gov|access-date=December 3, 2017|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412182242/https://www.usa.gov/voter-registration-age-requirements|url-status=dead}}</ref> and sometimes by [[felony]] or imprisonment status.


== History ==
== History ==
Historically, some inconsistency around the term is frequent. Prior to the [[American Revolution]] in what is now the United States—and before the coming of age of the "crowned republics" of [[constitutional monarchies]] in the United Kingdom and other European countries—''democracy'' and ''republic'' were "used more or less interchangeably",<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web |title=Democracy or republic? |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy/Democracy-or-republic |website=Britannica |access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> and the concepts associated with representative democracy and hence with a democratic republic are suggested by John Adams (writing in 1784): "No determinations are carried, it is true, in a simple or representative democracy, but by consent of the majority or their representatives."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/worksjohnadamss01unkngoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/worksjohnadamss01unkngoog/page/n123 109]|quote=... in a simple or representative democracy but by consent of the majority.|title=The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations|last=Adams|first=John|date=1851|publisher=Little, Brown}}</ref> The [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]) claims to be the oldest of Asia's democratic republics, though its recent history of democratic process is largely linked only to Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acK1AQAAQBAJ&q=%22oldest+democratic+republic%22&pg=PA246|title=Parliaments in Asia: Institution Building and Political Development|last1=Yongnian|first1=Zheng|last2=Fook|first2=Lye Liang|last3=Hofmeister|first3=Wilhelm|date=2013-10-23|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134469659|language=en}}</ref> Likewise, Africa's oldest democratic republic, [[Liberia]] (formed in 1822), has had its political stability rocked by periodic violence and coups.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/08/elections-history-in-africa-s-oldest-democratic-republic-liberia|title=Elections history in Africa's oldest democratic republic: Liberia|date=2017-10-08|work=euronews|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en}}</ref>
Historically, some inconsistency around the term is frequent.

===United States===
Prior to the [[American Revolution]] in what is now the United States—and before the coming of age of the "crowned republics" of [[constitutional monarchies]] in the U.K. and other European countries—"democracy" and "republic" were "used more or less interchangeably",<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web |title=Democracy or republic? |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy/Democracy-or-republic |website=Britannica |access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> and the concepts associated with representative democracy (and hence with a democratic republic) are suggested by John Adams (writing in 1784):

{{quote|No determinations are carried, it is true, in a simple or representative democracy, but by consent of the majority or their representatives.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/worksjohnadamss01unkngoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/worksjohnadamss01unkngoog/page/n123 109]|quote=in a simple or representative democracy but by consent of the majority.|title=The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations|last=Adams|first=John|date=1851|publisher=Little, Brown|language=en}}</ref>}}

===Asia===
The [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]) claims to be the oldest of Asia's democratic republics, though its recent history of democratic process is largely linked only to Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acK1AQAAQBAJ&q=%22oldest+democratic+republic%22&pg=PA246|title=Parliaments in Asia: Institution Building and Political Development|last1=Yongnian|first1=Zheng|last2=Fook|first2=Lye Liang|last3=Hofmeister|first3=Wilhelm|date=2013-10-23|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134469659|language=en}}</ref>

===Africa===
Likewise, Africa's oldest democratic republic, [[Liberia]] (formed in 1822), has had its political stability rocked by periodic violence and coups.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/08/elections-history-in-africa-s-oldest-democratic-republic-liberia|title=Elections history in Africa's oldest democratic republic: Liberia|date=2017-10-08|work=euronews|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en}}</ref>


== Global use of the term ==
== Global use of the term ==
Starting in the 20th century after World War II, many countries used the term "democratic republic" in their official names—most of which were [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]], or socialist, one-party states<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall|title=Berlin Wall – Cold War|publisher=HISTORY TV|website=history.com|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref>—that did not allow political opposition, free press or other democratic norms and institutions.
Starting in the 20th century after World War II, many countries used the term "democratic republic" in their official names—most of which were [[Marxist–Leninist]], or socialist, one-party states<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall|title=Berlin Wall – Cold War|publisher=HISTORY TV|website=history.com|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref>—that did not allow political opposition, free press or other democratic norms and institutions. These include states no longer in existence or who have changed their governmental systems and official names (almost all Marxist–Leninist): the German Democratic Republic ([[East Germany]]), the [[Somali Democratic Republic]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onwar.com/actors/type42/somalidemrep.htm|title=Somali Democratic Republic|website=www.onwar.com|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223185442/https://www.onwar.com/actors/type42/somalidemrep.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ([[North Vietnam]]), the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen ([[South Yemen]]), the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]], and the [[People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Clapham|first=Christopher|date=1987-06-01|title=The constitution of the people's democratic Republic of Ethiopia|journal=Journal of Communist Studies|volume=3|issue=2|pages=192–195|doi=10.1080/13523278708414865|issn=0268-4535}}</ref>


As of October 2024, states which use the term "Democratic Republic" in their official names include many that do not hold free elections and have been rated as "undemocratic" or "unfree" by organizations that gave such ratings. [[Algeria]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Ethiopia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[North Korea]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Laos]],<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/laos/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Nepal]],<ref name="cia.gov" /> the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}, [[Turkmenistan]] and [[Uzbekistan]] do not hold free elections and are rated as undemocratic "[[hybrid regime]]s" or "[[authoritarian regime]]s" by [[The Economist Democracy Index]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://infographics.economist.com/2017/DemocracyIndex/|title=EIU Democracy Index 2016|website=infographics.economist.com|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> In addition, there are a few countries which use the term "Democratic Republic" in the name and have a good record of holding free or relatively free general elections and were rated "flawed democracy" or "full democracy" in the Democracy Index, such as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste ([[East Timor]]), the [[São Tomé and Príncipe|Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe]], and the [[Sri Lanka|Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka]].
These include states no longer in existence or who have changed their governmental systems and official names, (almost all Marxist-Leninist):<br>
the German Democratic Republic ([[East Germany]]), the [[Somali Democratic Republic]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onwar.com/actors/type42/somalidemrep.htm|title=Somali Democratic Republic|website=www.onwar.com|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223185442/https://www.onwar.com/actors/type42/somalidemrep.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ([[North Vietnam]]), the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen ([[South Yemen]]), the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] and the [[People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Clapham|first=Christopher|date=1987-06-01|title=The constitution of the people's democratic Republic of Ethiopia|journal=Journal of Communist Studies|volume=3|issue=2|pages=192–195|doi=10.1080/13523278708414865|issn=0268-4535}}</ref>

States which (as of 2022) use the term "Democratic Republic" in their official names also include many that do not hold free elections and have been rated as "undemocratic" or "unfree" by organizations that gave such ratings. [[Algeria]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Ethiopia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[North Korea]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Laos]],<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/laos/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> [[Nepal]],<ref name="cia.gov"/> and the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} do not hold free elections and are rated as undemocratic "[[hybrid regime]]s" or "[[authoritarian regime]]s" by the [[Democracy Index|Democracy Index (The Economist)]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://infographics.economist.com/2017/DemocracyIndex/|title=EIU Democracy Index 2016|website=infographics.economist.com|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref>

In addition there are a few countries which use the term "Democratic Republic" in the name and have a good record of holding free or relatively free general elections and were rated "flawed democracy" or "full democracy" in the Democracy Index, such as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste ([[East Timor]]), the [[São Tomé and Príncipe|Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe]] and the [[Sri Lanka|Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka]].


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Democracy]]
* [[Democracy]]
* [[Republic]]
* [[Democracy indices]]
* [[Federal republic]]
* [[Federal republic]]
* [[Liberal democracy]]
* [[People's Republic|People's republic]]
* [[People's Republic|People's republic]]
* [[Liberal democracy]]
* [[Republic]]
* [[Democracy indices]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Organizational theory]]

[[Category:Republic]]
[[Category:Types of democracy|Republic]]
[[Category:Types of democracy|Republic]]
[[Category:Organizational theory]]
[[Category:Types of republics]]

Latest revision as of 23:44, 27 October 2024

A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. As a cross between two similar systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.

While not all democracies are republics (constitutional monarchies, for instance, are not) and not all republics are democracies, common definitions of the terms democracy and republic often feature overlapping concerns, suggesting that many democracies function as republics, and many republics operate on democratic principles, as shown by these definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary:

  • Republic: "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch."[1]
  • Democracy: "A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."[2]

Eugene Volokh of the UCLA School of Law observes that the United States exemplifies the varied nature of a constitutional republic—a country where some decisions (often local) are made by direct democratic processes, while others (often federal) are made by democratically elected representatives.[3] As with many large systems, US governance is incompletely described by any single term. It also employs the concept, for instance, of a constitutional republic in which a court system is involved in matters of jurisprudence.[3]

As with other democracies, not all people in a democratic republic are necessarily citizens, and not all citizens are necessarily entitled to vote.[4] Suffrage is commonly restricted by criteria such as voting age,[5] and sometimes by felony or imprisonment status.

History

[edit]

Historically, some inconsistency around the term is frequent. Prior to the American Revolution in what is now the United States—and before the coming of age of the "crowned republics" of constitutional monarchies in the United Kingdom and other European countries—democracy and republic were "used more or less interchangeably",[6] and the concepts associated with representative democracy and hence with a democratic republic are suggested by John Adams (writing in 1784): "No determinations are carried, it is true, in a simple or representative democracy, but by consent of the majority or their representatives."[7] The Republic of China (Taiwan) claims to be the oldest of Asia's democratic republics, though its recent history of democratic process is largely linked only to Taiwan.[8] Likewise, Africa's oldest democratic republic, Liberia (formed in 1822), has had its political stability rocked by periodic violence and coups.[9]

Global use of the term

[edit]

Starting in the 20th century after World War II, many countries used the term "democratic republic" in their official names—most of which were Marxist–Leninist, or socialist, one-party states[10]—that did not allow political opposition, free press or other democratic norms and institutions. These include states no longer in existence or who have changed their governmental systems and official names (almost all Marxist–Leninist): the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), the Somali Democratic Republic,[11] the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen), the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, and the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.[12]

As of October 2024, states which use the term "Democratic Republic" in their official names include many that do not hold free elections and have been rated as "undemocratic" or "unfree" by organizations that gave such ratings. Algeria,[13] Democratic Republic of the Congo,[14] Ethiopia,[15] North Korea,[16] Laos,[17] Nepal,[17] the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[citation needed], Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan do not hold free elections and are rated as undemocratic "hybrid regimes" or "authoritarian regimes" by The Economist Democracy Index.[18] In addition, there are a few countries which use the term "Democratic Republic" in the name and have a good record of holding free or relatively free general elections and were rated "flawed democracy" or "full democracy" in the Democracy Index, such as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor), the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "republic | Definition of republic in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  2. ^ "democracy | Definition of democracy it English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Volokh, Eugene (May 13, 2015). "Is the United States of America a republic or a democracy?". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "Characteristics of Democratic Republic". Government VS. softUsvista Inc.
  5. ^ "Voter Registration Age Requirements by State". USA.gov. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Democracy or republic?". Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  7. ^ Adams, John (1851). The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations. Little, Brown. p. 109. ... in a simple or representative democracy but by consent of the majority.
  8. ^ Yongnian, Zheng; Fook, Lye Liang; Hofmeister, Wilhelm (October 23, 2013). Parliaments in Asia: Institution Building and Political Development. Routledge. ISBN 9781134469659.
  9. ^ "Elections history in Africa's oldest democratic republic: Liberia". euronews. October 8, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Berlin Wall – Cold War". history.com. HISTORY TV. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  11. ^ "Somali Democratic Republic". www.onwar.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  12. ^ Clapham, Christopher (June 1, 1987). "The constitution of the people's democratic Republic of Ethiopia". Journal of Communist Studies. 3 (2): 192–195. doi:10.1080/13523278708414865. ISSN 0268-4535.
  13. ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  14. ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  15. ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  16. ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "EIU Democracy Index 2016". infographics.economist.com. Retrieved December 3, 2017.