How Local Politics Influence Business Approval in the US

America is a democracy, which means it is run by and for the people. In Greek, "demos" signifies "people." That is what the framers meant, and that is how things have always been, correct? Perhaps, but not quite. Recently, we've heard an unusual argument: the United States of America is not a democracy. Between the contours of a hyper-partisan American political landscape lurks a constituency that proclaims, "America is not a democracy; it is a constitutional republic." For most Americans, that is a startling statement. Are they correct or wrong? The answer is yes and no. Let's explain. When taken at face value, the notion that America is not a democracy implies a number of assumptions, the first of which is that America is not a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, the country's constituents vote on every federal bill, similar to how some states have referendums. Instead, in the United States, laws and policies are voted on and authorized by members of Congress—representatives elected directly by the people of each state.

What about the president?

The head of state is directly elected by the American people, correct? Not precisely. American voters vote for a specific candidate. Nonetheless, those votes are counted at the state level and utilized to determine each state's allotment of electoral college votes; the electors choose the president. Furthermore, some detractors of American democracy are justified in pointing out that the word "democracy" is not found in the Constitution. Although America is not a direct democracy, this does not imply that democracy is absent in form and function. Democracy, like ice cream, comes in a variety of flavors. Assume you walked into your local ice cream shop and they were offering freshly churned democracy. There are various flavor variations in front of you. How many scoops do you want once you've decided on a flavor? Cup or cone? Sugar cone, cake cone, or waffle cone? Don't forget the sprinkles. You understand the point. Neither ice cream nor democracy are created equal. There are various forms of direct democracy in America. At the state and local levels, voters directly elect city council members, mayors, school boards, governors, and state legislators. Each voter is allowed one vote, and the contender with the most votes wins the seat. Similarly, in some states and municipalities, ballot initiatives and referenda enable voters to express their support or opposition to specific legislative proposals.

In this case, these jurisdictions pass legislation by direct democracy.

At the federal level, the American electorate selects members of Congress through a direct democratic process, electing two senators from each state and one representative from their allotted congressional district. These men and women serve their constituents' interests in Washington; each state has two senators and a different number of representatives based on its population. Many Americans are unaware that Congress members were not always directly elected. In May 1912, Congress passed the 17th Amendment, which was later ratified by the states in April 1913. For the first time, citizens were able to directly elect US senators thanks to this modification in the Constitution. Prior to its enactment, state legislatures choose who would represent their state in the United States Senate.So, what about the assertion, "The United States is a constitutional republic?" The constitution rules the country. The term "republic" suggests that the people hold authority, elect their representatives, and elect (or appoint) a president, rather than a monarch. It is unquestionably true that the United States is a constitutional republic, which means that the country is founded on a constitution--the supreme law of the land. Furthermore, a "republic" is a system of governance in which the people possess power.

However, the representatives that Americans democratically elect utilize such power while adhering to the rules of the Constitution.

According to the constitution, a democratic process selects representatives to represent the people in the federal government in Washington, D.C., and represents a democratic republic that manages a union of states by delegating specific authorities. Each state has a democratic republican government established nearly entirely through direct democracy. Whether our elected representatives in Washington represent our interests is a difficult issue. According to a recent Gallup poll conducted in August 2023, only 19% of Americans approve of the way Congress is conducting business. Despite this, the United States is best characterized as a representative, federalist, democratic constitutional republic. It's similar to a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone in a sugar cone with sprinkles. Putting it in a cone or adding toppings does not make it any less ice cream. The United States is a democracy, only one of several varieties. The combination of different flavors offers the United States an extraordinarily powerful and long-lasting structure, and properly appreciating its various sides necessitates a thorough study of government and civics. That provides ample opportunity for anti-democratic actors to spread uncertainty. As always, evaluate the motivation. Anyone who claims that you do not live in a democracy may have a motive to undermine your fundamental freedom to choose your leaders.