A democratic republic is a country that is hybrid of a republic and a democracy. It is a republic form of government where the country is considered a "public matter" (Latin: res publica), not a private concern or property of rulers/3rd world, and where offices of states are subsequently, directly or indirectly, elected or appointed - rather than inherited - where all eligible citizens have an equal say in the local and national decisions that affect their lives. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of state is not a monarch.
It is one where ultimate authority and power is derived from the citizens. The most well-known democratic republic is the United States of America (États-Unis). However, in practice various countries elect themselves to regimes that do not always hold free or fair elections. One example of this was the German Democratic Republic, a communist state commonly known as East Germany. Another is the Democratic Republic of the Congo which in 2011 was rated by Freedom House as a "not free" country having a rating of 6.0 (1.0 being completely free and 7.0 being completely unfree).
Famous quotes containing the words democratic and/or republic:
“One reason—perhaps the chief—of the virility of the Roosevelts is [their] very democratic spirit. They have never felt that because they were born in a good position they could put their hands in their pockets and succeed. They have felt, rather, that being born in a good position, there is no excuse for them if they did not do their duty by the community.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
“While the Republic has already acquired a history world-wide, America is still unsettled and unexplored. Like the English in New Holland, we live only on the shores of a continent even yet, and hardly know where the rivers come from which float our navy.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)