And yet we are a democratic republic.
No, we are not. We are simply a Republic: "A republic is a form of government in which the government is officially apportioned to the control of the people and thus a "public matter" (Latin: res publica) and where offices of state are subsequently directly or indirectly elected or appointed." -
Source
Inherent within a Republic is direct or indirect election of the people's representatives. There's no need whatsoever to introduce "democratic," a term that's both oxymoronic on the one hand, and contrary on the other hand:
Democracy: "Democracy is an egalitarian form of government in which all the citizens of a nation together determine public policy, the laws and the actions of their state, requiring that all citizens (meeting certain qualifications) have an equal opportunity to express their opinion." -
Source
We are not a "democracy," nor are we even "democratic," as both require the citizens themselves to "determine public policy." Furthermore democracies require citizens to be able to "equally express their opinion" to all the other citizens who're also determining public policy. Such a condition exists only when the numbers are small enough to allow it, and the maximum theoretical limit is measured in the hundreds. Such a form of government is impossible for tens of thousands of people, much less 300 Million.
Again, your use of the term "democratic" is both misleading and contrary to the meaning and intent of the term "Republic." There is no such thing as a "democratic republic," Aknazer.
If we weren't then it wouldn't be possible for things to go to the ballot for the people to decide.
That's not a democracy, or even democratic.
One example being California's prop 8 or how there had been talk of certain people wanting to send the OK OC bill to the ballot instead of the legislature actually voting on it. Luckily the use of the democratic part is very small, but it is there and has been used.
That's neither a democracy, nor is it democratic. Were each and every citizen given the opportunity to craft Prop 8? No. Were those voting on it able to discuss it with those who were formulating it before it was floated as a proposition? No.
Not a democracy. Not democratic.
Their
representatives discussed it, formulated it, and floated it. That's a REPUBLIC, my friend, pure and simple. The fact that the representatives float some of the issues for a final vote is immaterial, as the representatives retain full control over what's discussed, what's formulated, and what's floated. Not the people, e.g. not a democracy. Not democratic.
Sure, if the citizens don't like what's discussed, formulated, and floated, they can vote them out of office. Again, a Republic: "offices of state are subsequently directly or indirectly elected or appointed."
Not a democracy. Not democratic.