Republicanism | Overview

OVERVIEW

WHO CONTROLS GOVERNMENT? Elected officials, majority of power in state leaders

HOW IS GOVERNMENT PUT INTO POWER? Popular vote of the majority

WHAT ROLES DO THE PEOPLE HAVE? Vote; serve the state in a crisis

WHO CONTROLS PRODUCTION OF GOODS? The owners of capital

WHO CONTROLS DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS? The owners of capital

MAJOR FIGURES Niccolò Machiavelli; John Jay

HISTORICAL EXAMPLE Ancient Sparta

Republicanism is familiar because it pervades political speech. Americans, for example, have long pledged allegiance not only to their flag but also to "the republic for which it stands." But republicanism is also elusive because there is no consensus among scholars or citizens as to exactly what a republic is. No wonder. Republican government has been practiced in a wide variety of times and places, including ancient Athens, Sparta,...

[The entire page is 574 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

Dictionary Tip:

Lookup any word on eNotes with our dictionary. Highlight the word and press SHIFT + D for a definition, or SHIFT + T for a synonym.