Social Sciences and History / Unit 7 SSH 0603 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Democracy, Republic, Oligarchy, Monarchy, Totalitarianism
Captions available
The idea
Democracy puts power in the people's hands: direct when they decide themselves, representative when voters elect lawmakers. A republic is representative rule without a monarch. Monarchy: one hereditary ruler; oligarchy: a handful of elites; totalitarianism: an all-powerful state, citizens without rights.
In practice
Majority rule bound by minority rights.
Where people slip
The United States is both a representative democracy and a republic.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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