I’ve heard many people refer to America as a “great democracy” or express gratitude for our “democratic” form of government, but the Pledge of Allegiance refers to America as a Republic. So which one is it? And what’s the difference?

The U.S. Army’s Training Manual No. 2000-25 (published 1928) defines both as follows:

Democracy:

1. A government of the masses.

2. Authority derived through mass meetings or any other form of “direct” expression.

3. Results in mobocracy (rule by the mob).

4. Attitude toward property is communistic — negating property rights.

5. Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it is based upon deliberation or government by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences.

6. Results in demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.

Republic:

1. Authority is derived through the election by the people of public officials best fitted to represent them.

2. Attitude toward property is respect for laws and individual rights, and a sensible economic procedure.

3. Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord with fixed principles and established evidence, with a strict regard for consequences.

4. A greater number of citizens and extent of territory may be brought within it compass.

5. Avoids the dangerous extreme of either tyranny or mobocracy.

6. Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice, contentment, and progress.

The United States definitely is not a democracy, so why do so many call it that? The confusion can be traced to the socialist movements of the early twentieth century. Since democracy is somewhat similar to a republic, and democratic attitude toward property is communistic, the socialists decided that portraying the United States as a democracy would best set the stage for a “Socialist Revolution”. Today, definitions of democracy and republic are so confused that the two are sometimes listed as synonyms. After all, there is really only one fundamental difference. A Democracy results in despotism, a Republic results in prosperity.

-That’s the John Galt line.