Final answer:
The main difference between a direct democracy and a republican form of government is that in a direct democracy, people vote on the laws, while in a republic elected representatives vote on laws. In a direct democracy, citizens have a direct say in making decisions and passing laws, while in a republic, the citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. The United States operates as a representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives at various levels to make decisions on their behalf.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between a direct democracy and a republican form of government is that in a direct democracy, people vote on the laws, while in a republic elected representatives vote on laws. This means that in a direct democracy, citizens have a direct say in making decisions and passing laws, while in a republic, the citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.
For example, in ancient Athens, which is a famous example of a direct democracy, all male citizens could attend meetings of the Assembly to debate and vote on proposed laws.
On the other hand, a republic, which is also known as a representative democracy, involves the citizens electing officials to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. The representatives are chosen by the people and are responsible for governing for a limited period of time. The United States operates as a representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives at various levels to make decisions on their behalf.
It is worth noting that a major difference between a democracy and a republic is that in a democracy, the majority rules without consideration of the needs of the minority, while in a republic, one of the duties of government is to protect the rights of the minority against the tyranny of the majority.