Constitutional Principles: Representative Government

Do you understand the key differences between a Republic and a Democracy? The Bill of Rights Institute has created a short, engaging video for Constitution Day on the constitutional principle of representative government. Exciting visuals from current events, an engaging historical narrative, brief scholar interviews, familiar music, and memorable quotes will make this 5-minute video perfect for use on Constitution Day, and every day! A short viewing guide is also available to guide you through the content.

• Category

  Education

[Jack Kornblau]

Democracy is a utopian ideal, it points in the right direction but must have a pragmatic system to get there. That is is where a republic comes in.

[Andrew Toig]

The images shown during the words "Direct democracies have been tried througout history" are of the Colliseum, built in ancient Rome, which was not a direct democracy, but a Republic

[Turbotortoise Stickle]

I agree, but the subject is "Constitutional Principles: Representative Government". They probily have a seperate video set about the political parties.

[kesheehan5]

This video discusses how the United States is not a democracy because we are a representative government....last time I checked representative government is a type of democracy.

[NostalgicStone]

This is a great video, but the audio sucks! It's way loud, then way quiet.

[track325]

This was pretty not Great. It should be mentioned that We didn't have real Political Parties at the time of the founding as well as Primary elections or Political conventions. They were not accounted for and Political have done much to undermine our Constitutional Republic. Ironically I think We need far greater checks and balances on the Federal Government which is completely out of Control.

[BenAliGtor]

"A Republic or a Democracy"? Neither. Try: "a government of enumerated delegated powers."

[Craig Corbin]

*To clarify, the premise as stated on the facebook link. I like the title of the video as well.

[Craig Corbin]

Fran, I respect your viewpoint yet disdain you posturing. I feel that the video's premise is polarizing. I feel that democracy and republic are not mutually exclusive. I agree that a democracy is best managed by a republic (where I tend to lean more towards to what the video is explaining). In other words democracy is best managed by the republic (representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them). I think I understand why the premise stated on the facebook link. It is catchy.

[PabloElPistolero956]

ya but dont know our votes dont count anymore because the small ruling elite puts their own figureheads up for election and its their votes that count not ours anymore