By definition, a republic is a political unit governed by a charter, while a democracy is a government whose prevailing force is always that of the majority. Perhaps one of the difficulties in defining these two words, namely democracy and republic, stems from the fact that many consider them synonyms, which they aren’t. They are no more alike than an apple and a banana, and yet they are often used interchangeably.

The difference between a republic and a democracy lies in the ultimate source of official power. In the case of a republic, it lies with a charter; in a democracy, with the rule of the majority. And yet they are often lumped together. Consider the words to the United States' Pledge of Allegiance, which adds to some of the confusion by proudly touting: “And to the republic for which its stands, one nation under God, indivisible,” Was this the dream of America's forefathers? Even if it was, isn't the US, the epitome of the word democracy?

Yes it is and no it isn't. In a democracy, to decide on an issue, the question is put to the vote of the population and the majority of those votes determine the outcome. In essence, a democracy is only as free as its people deem it to be. In an extreme state of ignorance and apathy, a democracy can be just as tyrannical as the regime of the most tyrannical dictator who ever walked the face the earth.

In seeking clarification between a democracy and a republic, look no further than the names of American political parties and how they loosely define their boundaries. If nothing else, the names republican and democrat are definitely about a Republican’s looser view of government and a Democrat’s centralized one. In a republic, people may vote for their representatives, but the state’s responsibilities are limited because they are clearly bound by a charter. Freedom is realized by the willingness of the people to live by the dictates of the charter. The republic’s charter protects the individual’s rights.

The detailed organization of the government of a republic can vary widely, but in most cases, the head of state, as it is in France, for example, is referred to as the president. In republics, which are also democracies, the head of state is always appointed as the result of either a direct or indirect election. In the case of some republics, such as Switzerland and San Marino, the head of state is actually a committee of several persons in aggregate. Republics can be led by a head of state that retains many characteristics of a monarch, as in some instances the president may rule for the duration of his life. Such an example would be the Syrian Arab Republic.

Republics and democracies represent two forms representative government out of many found in the world today. The rights of the individual are always protected, no matter how they are represented.