There’s an old story about Benjamin Franklin being asked what kind of government the Constitutional Convention had created. His response? “A republic, if you can keep it.” This foundational understanding of America’s governance seems to be slipping away, as fewer people are taught in schools that we are a Constitutional Republic, not a pure democracy.
The Constitution is clear on this matter. Article IV, Section 4 states: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.” This “Republican” term refers to the form of government, not the political party, emphasizing the importance of a system designed to protect individual rights and prevent mob rule.
Despite this clarity, CNN recently aired a segment suggesting that calling our government a “republic” is a conspiracy theory pushed by MAGA supporters. Jamie Gangel, a CNN Special Correspondent, shared this sentiment, only to delete her post after backlash. The segment itself was even more troubling, with CNN seemingly trying to debunk the fact that America is a republic. They interviewed author Anne Applebaum, who inaccurately claimed, “America is a democracy. It was founded as a democracy.”
The Founders intentionally avoided a pure democracy because they feared the potential for mob rule, which could jeopardize individual liberties and minority rights. Instead, they established a Constitutional Republic, where elected representatives govern under the rule of law, and checks and balances, like the judiciary, protect individual rights. This distinction is crucial; in a pure democracy, majority rule could easily trample on minority rights, but in a Constitutional Republic, the rule of law upholds and protects those rights.
If we were purely a democracy, politicians would focus only on populous states and urban areas to win elections, ignoring smaller states entirely. The Electoral College helps balance this by ensuring that all states have a voice, protecting the interests of smaller states and maintaining the union’s integrity. This is what MAGA supporters are emphasizing, and it’s far from a conspiracy theory. It’s a fundamental principle of our government designed to ensure a fair and balanced representation across the nation.
The real concern should be why some Democrats seem intent on labeling America a democracy while downplaying or ignoring our status as a Constitutional Republic. Is it ignorance, or is there a more troubling agenda at play? We’ve seen actions from Biden and other Democrats that undermine fundamental aspects of our Constitutional Republic: defying Supreme Court rulings, advocating for court-packing, and attacking justices who rule against their preferences. They’ve pushed to eliminate the Electoral College, a crucial element of our Constitution, and targeted political opponents with lawfare. These actions threaten the very nature of our government, not Trump or his supporters.
Eliminating the Electoral College would allow Democrats to focus only on states like New York and California, ignoring the interests of Middle America. This would marginalize voters from smaller states, whose voices are crucial in our republic. Without proper education on our government’s nature, future generations might not understand these protections, making them more susceptible to dangerous ideologies like communism instead of appreciating the rule of law that makes America exceptional.
In summary, it’s essential to recognize and preserve the distinction between a democracy and a Constitutional Republic. The latter provides the checks and balances necessary to protect individual liberties and ensure fair representation across all states. Attempts to blur these lines are not just misleading but dangerous to the foundations of our nation.
