are we a republic or a democracy
But we are a representative democracy, which is a form of democracy. And the same two meanings of âdemocracyâ (sometimes direct democracy, sometimes popular self-government more generally) existed at the founding of the republic as well.
We often hear the claim that our nation is a democracy. That wasnât the vision of the founders. They saw democracy as another form of tyranny. If weâve become a democracy, I guarantee you that the founders would be deeply disappointed by our betrayal of their vision. The founders intended, and laid out the ground rules, for our nation to be a republic.