How is America not a democracy?

Answer 1

America is a Democratic Republic.

Technically, it is a democracy. The people hold the ultimate power. They choose who represents them, and can choose not to elect the same person again, if they wish.

Technically, it is a republic. They delegate this power to who the people. The people still have the power, the delegates just represent their wishes.

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America has a Constitution-based Federal Republic.

America is not a Democracy. America is the name of a continent. The United States of America is not a Democracy. It was Constituted as a Federal Representative Republic. The only legally recognized democratic practice is the election process used in the several States and in D.C. Nowhere in the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution will you find the word "Democracy" because the Founders purposely intended to strictly avoid constituting the US the federal government as a Democracy. However, the US Constitution guarantees a "Republican" form of government to the States (Art.4, Sec.4). The common phrase, "We're a Democracy" gained popularity in the 1900's, and is used quaintly. It is as groundless as the phrase, "Santa Clause is coming to town", but the collective somehow believes the former to be factual, and the latter quaintly absurd and childish. Go figure. So the fact is: Technically We are a Republic.