Hannah McCarthy: Now, when Juliet is talking about ancient Greece, is she referring to Athens, to Athenian democracy? Juliet Hooker: I'm the Royce professor, teaching excellence in political science at Brown University. Juliet Hooker: You know, the word democracy, of course, goes back to ancient Greece and to the city states that, you know, that first pioneered this form of politics. Are we wrong to refer to the US as a democracy? What did the framers of our Constitution intend for us to be? And while we're at it, how democratic are we anyways? Nick Capodice: And today in our podcast refresher course on the basics of how our democracy works, we're interrogating those exact words. Nick Capodice: If you're listening to Civics 101 I'm Nick Capodice.

Washington Journal Archive: Who wants to take that on? Have a great Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas. But I challenge you to scour the Federalist Papers. I find your efforts outstanding because of the ignorance of the average American citizen and truly wish you well in this endeavor. Do you want to investigate a democracy? I suggest you look at the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the former Soviet Union who allowed people to vote, but they only had one choice. And we pass laws and govern ourselves through our elected representatives and a rule of law. The United States of America is not a democracy. I taught American government and civics for 22 years in an American public school classroom in Tennessee. I have a bone to pick with your two guests. Washington Journal Archive: Thank you for taking this call. Washington Journal Archive: Let's talk to Murph, who's calling from Germantown, Tennessee. Nick Capodice: And I want to play one caller's specific beef with us, and he's not alone. How do you keep your own opinions to yourselves on your show? I know you're just working on. Being bipartisan, you guys from New Hampshire. Washington Journal Archive: Good morning, Jesse. Washington Journal Archive: Let's talk to James, who's calling from Port Angeles, Washington. And I remember very clearly, Nick, when they opened the phone lines. In November of 2021, Nick and I were on Washington Journal on C-SPAN, talking about our show. Nick Capodice: You want to just tell everyone real quick what it was? Hannah McCarthy: Oh, yeah, I remember this. Hannah McCarthy: It's a pleasure to be here, Jesse. Thank you so much for being with us here this morning. And these are its co-hosts and producers, Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice. Washington Journal Archive: And that's New Hampshire Public Radio's Civic 101 podcast.

Republic vs a democracy