5-Minute Videos
The Difference Between a Democracy and a Republic
Political Science · American Values · Captions
About This Video
If you ask Americans to name their country’s form of government, most of them will say they live in a democracy. However, the real answer is more complicated (and unexpected) than that. Robert George, Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, explains.
Standards Met in Ohio
- 8.GO.22Grades 8thThe U.S. Constitution established a federal republic, providing a framework for a national government with elected representatives, separation of powers, and checks and balances.
- AMG.9-12.12.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain ways the different people/groups in government can limit each other’s powers (e.g., checks and balances).
- AMG.9-12.13.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thGiven an event, explain how it creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government (e.g., checks and balances).
- AMG.9-12.13.bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain a political process that creates a dynamic interaction between the three branches of government (e.g., checks and balances).
- AMG.9-12.5.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain basic principles of government in the United States (e.g., separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism).
- AMH.9-12.23.bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain the difference between communism and democracy.
- SS.7.17aGrades 7thExplain the difference between a democracy and a republic.
- SS.7.17bGrades 7thIdentify one difference between a democracy and a republic.