Changes

== Democracy, or a Republic? ==

== Democracy, or a Republic? ==

Perhaps the most fundamental question that can be asked about the American system of government is this:  is it a democracy?  The answer is '''''no'''''.  Instead, the United States is a republic:  government by representatives who are elected by the people, with limitations the people governing directly.  These representatives have a sworn duty to abide by the U.S. Constitution, and are expected to be better informed, more responsible, and less affected by whim or fads than the average voter.  Because the Constitution is what really governs the United States, the most precise term for our system of government is a "constitutional republic."

Perhaps the most fundamental question that can be asked about the American system of government is this:  is it a democracy?  The answer is '''''no'''''.  The United States is a '''''republic''''':  government by representatives who are elected by the people, such that the people do '''''not''''' govern directly.  These elected representatives have a sworn duty to abide by the U.S. Constitution, and they are expected to be better informed, more responsible, and less affected by whim or fads than the average voter.  Because the Constitution is what really governs the United States, the most precise term for our system of government is a "constitutional republic."

A democracy would elect the next president by a popular vote nationwide.  In 2000, that would have meant the election of Al Gore rather than George W. Bush, because Al Gore won more votes nationwide than Bush did.  The Electoral College system that we continue to have for electing the president would not exist in a democracy.

If the United States were a democracy, then we would elect the next president by a popular vote nationwide.  In 2000, that would have meant the election of Al Gore rather than George W. Bush, because Al Gore won more votes nationwide than Bush did.  The Electoral College system that we continue to have for electing the president would not exist in a democracy.

The Founders of our system of government, including the Framers of the Constitution, were generally oppose to a democracy.  Alexander Hamilton, for example, preferred government by something more like a monarchy than a democracy.  There was tremendous concern about how a democracy can be influenced in a bad way by the fickle whims of the people.  The long six-year terms for U.S. Senators is another example of how the Framers did not want democratic control of government.  Indeed, the U.S. Senate was chosen by the State legislatures, not by public vote, until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913.

The Founders of our system of government, including the Framers of the Constitution, were generally oppose to a democracy.  Alexander Hamilton, for example, preferred government by something more like a monarchy than a democracy.  There was tremendous concern about how a democracy can be influenced in a bad way by the fickle whims of the people.  The long six-year term for U.S. Senators is another example of how the Framers did not want democratic control of government.  Indeed, the U.S. Senate was chosen by the State legislatures, not by public vote, until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913.

At the founding of our Nation, not every adult even had the right to vote to select their congressmen and State legislatures.  In many States, only adults who owned property had the right to vote.  That condition was to ensure that only the productive members of society could choose the leaders.  If that condition still existed, then people who take from the government rather than giving to it would be as powerful in elections as they are today.

At the founding of our Nation, not every adult even had the right to vote to select their congressmen and State legislatures.  In many States, only adults who owned property had the right to vote.  That condition was to ensure that only the productive members of society could choose the leaders.  If that condition still existed, then people who take from the government rather than give to it would not be as powerful in elections as they are today.

Under the Constitution, states do not have any reserved powers with regards to federal election.  Subject to overarching federal law, state law determines who has a right to vote, what the registration process is, and whether a photo ID must be shown in order to vote.  The 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870 shortly after the Civil War, prohibit any limitations on the right to vote based on race.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (which Congress enacted pursuant to the 15th Amendment) and the 24th Amendment (barring poll taxes) prohibit any additional tests based on literacy or property ownership.  The Supreme Court has granted [[certiorari]] in ''Arizona v. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.'', a case determining whether an Arizona law requiring citizens registering to vote to provide documents proving their citizenship is preempted by the [[National Voter Registration Act]].

Subject to limitations in the U.S. Constitution and federal law, State law generally determines who has a right to vote, what the registration process is, and whether a photo ID must be shown in order to vote.  The 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870 shortly after the Civil War, prohibits any limitations on the right to vote based on race.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (which Congress enacted pursuant to the 15th Amendment) and the 24th Amendment (barring poll taxes) prohibit any additional tests based on literacy or property ownership.  The Supreme Court has recently granted [[certiorari]] in ''Arizona v. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.'', to decide whether an Arizona law requiring citizens registering to vote to provide documents proving their citizenship is preempted by a federal law, the [[National Voter Registration Act]].

The 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920 shortly after World War I, prohibits any limitations on the right to vote based on gender.  Women had the right to vote in many, but not all, States at the time this was passed.  The "women's suffragette" movement was designed to obtain the universal right of women to vote.  Its leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, were advocates of this the women's right to vote, but were very much opposed to any women's "right" to an abortion.  The "suffragettes" were very pro-life.

The 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920 shortly after World War I, prohibits any limitations on the right to vote based on gender.  Women had the right to vote in many, but not all, States at the time this was passed.  The "women's suffragette" movement successfully sought to guarantee the right of women to vote everywhere in the United States.  Its leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, were advocates of this women's right to vote, but were opposed to any women's "right" to an abortion.  The "suffragettes" were very pro-life.

The impact of the 19th Amendment was seen in the presidential debates and acceptance speeches at the nominating conventions this year.  Substantially more women vote today than men do, and both Romney and Obama have repeatedly attempted to win votes from women with their style and political positions.  Women tend to be against war, and both candidates at the final debate on foreign policy went out of their way to say how they do not plan to start another war.  If either won had been as pro-war as, for example, the Fox News Channel is, then that candidate would have lost many women votes and probably the election because of it.

The impact of the 19th Amendment was seen in the presidential debates and acceptance speeches at the nominating conventions this year.  More women vote today than men do, and both Romney and Obama have repeatedly attempted to win votes from women by tailoring their styles and political positions to appeal to women.  Women tend to be against war, and both candidates at the final debate on foreign policy went out of their way to say how they do not plan to start another war.  If either candidate had been as pro-war as, for example, the Fox News Channel is, then that candidate would have lost many women votes and probably the election because of it.

== A Direct Democracy? ==

== A Direct Democracy? ==