Debunked Myths

While Americans commonly describe their country as a democracy, this is colloquial shorthand. The nation's founders deliberately established a constitutional republic, expressing deep skepticism of pure democracy's potential for 'tyranny of the majority.' Their system places power with citizens who exercise it through elected representatives sworn to uphold the Constitution.

This framework includes counter-majoritarian features protecting minority rights: an independent judiciary, a bicameral legislature with equal state representation regardless of population, and the Electoral College. The term 'democratic republic' more accurately describes the system, acknowledging democratic principles of popular sovereignty within a republican structure of layered representation and constitutional limits.

The distinction matters because it reflects the founders' careful balance between majority rule and individual liberty protection. The U.S. system represents delegated authority and checked power—a nuanced design balancing popular will with constitutional protections rather than simple majority rule.