DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

The nature of our government established in The United States Constitution is always important and relevant. Of equal note is the fact that the form of government established by our Founders is and was truly remarkable.

I wish to suggest that our Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic. We enjoy an indivisible union of 50 sovereign states. We enjoy a democracy for the reason that people govern themselves. It is representative in that people choose elected officials by free and secret ballot. And of course, it is a republic because the government derives its power and legitimacy from the people governed, not a monarchy.

If we were to retrace the path of our founders, it might be discovered they understood the concept of “polis” or political things from the Greek city-state form of social organization. In the Platonic dialogues around 365 B.C. and Aristotle at about 322 B.C., Greek philosophers examined the conditions for people to take a rational and critical view of the relation between individual and collective society. Aristotle sought to inject “man” as a species of animal that possesses intelligence as found in collaborative groups to become a political animal. In the “polis” Aristotle insisted on political virtue and man-made laws that make up a constitution for the polis by using the word “politeia” which is the same word that Plato used in the title of his dialogue called the Republic.

In the course of that examination Aristotle and other philosophers noted that in the Greek city-states examined deliberations took place in face-to-face discussions among the people “demos.” Man-made laws “politeia” applied in city-states not ruled by monarchs. A republic, interchangeable with “politeia,” became a state where the people “demos” directly impact their government. Through man-made laws “politeia” the people “demos” ruled “kratos” themselves. Hence, people “demos” ruled “kratos” political organization “politeia” can be viewed as a demos + kratos (democratic) politeia (republic).

Our founders enjoyed the great virtue of classical studies that included Greek, Latin, Machiavelli’s The Prince, Grotius’ Law of War and Peace, Hobbes Leviathan, Locke’s Of Civil Government and some - The Bible. It is unfortunate that our Founders did not have the benefit of The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Julia Ward Howe 1861) or the Pledge of Allegiance (Francis Bellamy 1892) as their guide in 1787. Still, I have great faith that they realized what they were doing. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.