Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defined “REPUBLIC” as: We are basically pledging allegiance to us being in charge of ourselves. Where in a “democracy” citizens are king ruling directly – being physically present at every meeting, a “republic” is where the citizens are king ruling indirectly through their representatives.Īmericans pledge allegiance to the flag “and to the republic for which it stands.” If it grew larger than a city, it broke down, as logistically, not every citizen could be there everyday.Ī “republic” could grow larger, as citizens could take care of their families and farms, and send representatives in their place to go to the market to talk politics everyday. “Democracy,” though, as a specific political system, only ever worked on a small-scale, city-wide basis, as every citizen had to be present at every meeting to talk about every issue. “Democracy,” in the broad definition, refers to the population being involved in ruling – a “popular” government. The word “demos” means “people” and “cracy” means “to rule.”Ī “democracy” is where the citizens are king - ruling directly. Not merely in the sense of being a member of the executive, but in the sense … of helping to make the laws of his state.” “Aristotle’s … citizen is not content to have a say in the choosing of his rulers every citizen is actually to rule …

Ross wrote in Aristotle (London, Methuen, 1937, p. If citizens were so uninvolved they did not know what was going on, they were called “idiotes.” The Greek city-state of Athens had about 6,000 citizens, and every citizen had to be at the marketplace everyday to participate in the politics of the city.Ĭitizens who refused to get involved in city politics were liable to penalties. Residents of the city were called “polités” – the Greek word for “citizen,” having responsibility for governing as co-rulers, co-sovereigns, co-kings. “Politics” is simply the “business of the city.” Kings have “subjects” who are subjected to their will.ĭemocracies and Republics have “citizens.” The chief or SOVEREIGN of a nation a man invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country a monarch. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defined “KING” as:

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