America is a Constitutional Republic

Democracy is a form of government based upon the principle of majority rule. Period. End of discussion.

Now that's not very complicated. Majority rule. It's easy to understand. Easy to sell to the masses and, I might add, deadly.

For example: what would you call a lynch mob?

That's majority rule. There's only one dissenting vote and he's at the end of the rope.

Now that's pure democracy in action.

"Wait a minute!", you say. "The majority should rule, yes, but not to the extent of destroying the rights of the minority".

And now, ladies and gentlemen we are no longer describing a democracy.

We are speaking of a republic. A republic is a limited democracy.

It's a form of government based upon the principle of limited majority rule limited, so that the minority, even a minority of one, can be protected against the whims and passions of the majority.

And how do you protect the minority from the majority?

You write down a set of rules on a piece of paper.

You say, this we can do, that we cannot.

At the top of the paper, you write the word Constitution.

And then everyone agrees to follow the rules no matter what the temptation.

And when you're finished, you've created a Constitutional Republic.