A Republic, If You Can Keep It

The American Dream has been called the dream of democracy; all peoples from across the world long for the peace and prosperity of a democracy. They say that this dream can be realized in America; a democratic form of government is our beacon and goal for world peace and prosperity.

If this is the stuff of which American dreams are made, then it is interesting to note that the word “Democracy” is not once found either in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or any of the other twenty-seven Constitutional Amendments. In fact, Article VII of the Constitution guarantees a Republican form of government to every state in the Union, and every state has indeed been established as a Republic.

How could our Founders be guilty of such a grave error? Did they not understand a Democracy and what it could offer to a society?

The Father of the Constitution--James Madison--said …”democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”

So they were familiar with democracies. But why would Madison say that? In short, they understood the differences in principle between a democracy and a republic.

Definition of democracy: “A government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meeting or any form of ‘direct’ expression. Results in mobocracy. Attitude toward property is communistic--negating property rights. Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.” --US Army Training Manual, 1928

On the other hand, a republic operates upon opposing principles. Instead of relying on passion or chance pressures of the moment to make decisions, a republic operates on the rule of law. Laws, agreed upon and ratified by the people, are the guide for how that society will function. A government is then formed to ensure that law is followed. This government not only administers these laws, but is also subject to them.

When the government is subject to the same rules as the people they govern,  there is freedom for the people because that law can only be justly administered by the consent of the people. Thus the populace as a whole, with proper regard for minorities, has sovereign authority over that same government that exercises the administration of those laws the people deem necessary “for the public good”.

This is why Convention of States is so “necessary and proper.” The purpose of COS is to reverse the dangerous trend towards an emotional and unstable democracy and return to the freedom and accountability of a stable republic. Those administering the law must be held accountable for their actions to a sovereign people. After all, the government was formed for the people, not the other way around.

Convention of States is actively working to build the largest grassroots army America has ever seen to hold the federal government responsible. Join us, won’t you?