Republic and Democracy

Republic and Democracy both talk about governance, each focusing on different aspect.

• Republic is about structure of government
  • A Republic has no monarch. i.e. Head of state is Prime Minister or President,
• Democracy is when people's will is represented.
  • Direct Democracy: People vote on issues directly
  • Indirect Democracy: People elect representative and they vote on the issues

Additionally, in a pure democracy majority can rule over the minority but in a republic the constitution safegaurds the right of minority too. So, republic requires a constitution or a unwritten constitutional tradition.

Most democratic countries are republic. Lets see some examples of different governments:

• Republic and Democracy: USA, Nepal

• Non republic but Democratic: UK, Canada.

  Because they have a monarch, though with limited power.

• Republic but not a democracy:
  • China: Republic (ruled by head of state) but not a true democracy
  • Republic of Iran: Has elected officials like President but the unelected Supereme Leader, who is selected by an assembly of experts, holds the most power. Since Supreme leadership is not passed by heredity, it is a republic.
  • Russian Federation: Calls itself a democracy but acts like a authoratarian state
• Neither republic nor democracy:
  • Absolute Monarchy: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vatican City
  • Authoritarian States:
    • North Korea,
    • Qatar: It is Hereditary Absolute Monarchy but has Authoritarian Traits. Authoritarian because the opposition and freedom of people is supressed.

• Democracy Day (प्रजातन्त्र दिवश) Falgun 7:
  • Rana regime ended On Falgun 7, 2007 (1951 Feb 18) and Nepal became a democracy.
  • The King was still there, so it wasn't a republic yet.
  • On Falgun 7, 2015 BS (1959 Feb 18), Nepali were able to exercise their voting right and BP Koirala became the first democratically elected Prime Minister [wikipedia].

• Republic Day (गणतन्त्र दिवश) Jestha 15:

  On 2065 Jestha 15 (28 May 2008) first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal took place on which ended the 240-year reign of the Shah kings and declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic.