Final answer:
The US is considered a republic because it is a constitution-based federal system where citizens elect representatives to govern, rather than a pure democracy where all citizens vote on all legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some people argue that the US is a republic because, rather than being a pure democracy where citizens vote on all legislation, the United States is a constitution-based federal republic. In this system, citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions on their behalf. This is seen as a practical approach since a pure democracy is challenging to implement on a large scale. Additionally, the principle of republicanism, which underlies the US system of governance, emphasizes that the government should derive its powers from the people, who exercise this power by electing representatives to a governing body. The Federalist Papers further elaborate on this principle, explaining that the government must protect the rights of the minority against the majority, distinguishing a republic from a pure democracy.