Slammer, below is a good description of the difference between
the two: An Important Distinction: Democracy versus Republic It
is important to keep in mind the difference between a Democracy
and a Republic, as dissimilar forms of government. Understanding
the difference is essential to comprehension of the fundamentals
involved. It should be noted, in passing, that use of the word
Democracy as meaning merely the popular type of government--that
is, featuring genuinely free elections by the people
periodically--is not helpful in discussing, as here, the
difference between alternative and dissimilar forms of a popular
government: a Democracy versus a Republic. This double meaning
of Democracy--a popular-type government in general, as well as a
specific form of popular government--needs to be made clear in
any discussion, or writing, regarding this subject, for the sake
of sound understanding. These two forms of government: Democracy
and Republic, are not only dissimilar but antithetical,
reflecting the sharp co