--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people participate in votes in their…" description: "\"The people participate in votes in their states to choose electors to elect the president, but the people don't elect the president. We are not a democ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/michael-j-knowles-5892_democracy_the-people-participate-in-votes-in-their_353633.jpg" --- # The people participate in votes in their states to choose… ![“The people participate in votes in their states to choose electors to elect the president, but the people don't elect the president. We are not a democracy; we are a democratic republic. We have a representation system of government.” quote by Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/michael-j-knowles-5892_democracy_the-people-participate-in-votes-in-their_353633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/michael-j-knowles-5892_democracy_the-people-participate-in-votes-in-their_353633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/michael-j-knowles-5892_democracy_the-people-participate-in-votes-in-their_353633.jpg) > “The people participate in votes in their states to choose electors to elect the president, but the people don't elect the president. We are not a democracy; we are a democratic republic. We have a representation system of government.” [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. uses an indirect electoral system, so citizens vote for electors who then choose the president, making it a republic, not a direct democracy. **In simple terms:** America elects presidents indirectly. Key Takeaway Understand the electoral college’s role. Themes civics government democracy Mood analytical critical Type informative political When to use this quote - civic education - voter awareness campaigns - policy debates - school curricula Key Concepts representative democracy electoral college political theory Questions to Reflect On - Do you think this system serves the people? - How might reforms improve representation? A Different Perspective The system can dilute individual voter impact and create partisan gridlock. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Electors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-electors-3261478/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Electors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electors-1106486/) [Electors Elect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electors-elect-3261479/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-democracy-3261480/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not enough to be electors only. It is necessary to be law-makers; otherwise those who can be law-makers will be the masters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar/it-is-not-enough-to-be-electors-only-it-is-necessary-to-be-law-makers/) [Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar/) > [Winner take all does not exist in the Constitution. It's a restriction imposed on the electors by the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/winner-take-all-does-not-exist-in-the-constitution-it-s-a-restriction/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [ \[Donald\] Trump lost two electors, Hillary \[Clinton\] lost five. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-lost-two-electors-hillary-clinton-lost-five/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Who are to be the electors of the Federal Representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/who-are-to-be-the-electors-of-the-federal-representatives-not-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-overrule-the-popular-choice/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I trust my electors. I see them in weekly meetings. I'm their advocate, I'm there to take up their case. I'm not there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-trust-my-electors-i-see-them-in-weekly-meetings-i-m-their-advocate/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Presidents cannot always kick evil-minded persons out of the front door. Such persons are often selected by the electors to represent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/presidents-cannot-always-kick-evil-minded-persons-out-of-the-front/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The British electors will not vote for a man who does not wear a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-british-electors-will-not-vote-for-a-man-who-does-not-wear-a-hat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father thought, and now I think too, that the system of democracy is entirely based upon the system of justice. If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/my-father-thought-and-now-i-think-too-that-the-system-of-democracy-is/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [That's a fact of our federal system of government: each state runs their election differently - and that's OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/that-s-a-fact-of-our-federal-system-of-government-each-state-runs/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [If the system should not need parts now, the worker should not produce because you are just absorbing instead of producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-goldratt/if-the-system-should-not-need-parts-now-the-worker-should-not-produce/) [Eliyahu Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-goldratt/) > [I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us, because we never reached our peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-never-wanted-system-to-take-a-hiatus-i-think-it-was-a-disastrous/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [Most of the time, I get around perfectly well on my bike and public transportation, even in spite of the Bay Area's almost comically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/most-of-the-time-i-get-around-perfectly-well-on-my-bike-and-public/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) ## More by Michael J. Knowles > [President Trump's critics call him an immoral lout. By strict moral standards, so are we all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/president-trump-s-critics-call-him-an-immoral-lout-by-strict-moral/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [According to the politics of fantasy, mankind is on the verge of perfectibility, if only we give the government just a little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/according-to-the-politics-of-fantasy-mankind-is-on-the-verge-of/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Marriage is not for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/marriage-is-not-for-everyone/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Liberty plays an important role in justice, and there can be no justice without liberty, which is the power to do what one wills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/liberty-plays-an-important-role-in-justice-and-there-can-be-no/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [For the Left, when ideology and reality conflict, ideology must win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/for-the-left-when-ideology-and-reality-conflict-ideology-must-win/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [American universities have never considered academic merit the sole criterion for admittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/american-universities-have-never-considered-academic-merit-the-sole/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [The belief that men and women are different, the decision to date a Christian girl, and the audacity to disagree with one's liberal friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/the-belief-that-men-and-women-are-different-the-decision-to-date-a/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [While the leading environmental alarmists burn fossil fuels like they're going out of style, the United States under President Trump has led the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/while-the-leading-environmental-alarmists-burn-fossil-fuels-like-they/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [The Left, however, resists anglicizing Spanish terms because its political agenda relies on encouraging illegal immigration from Latin America and discouraging the assimilation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/the-left-however-resists-anglicizing-spanish-terms-because-its/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Republicans have always tolerated greater intellectual diversity than Democrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/republicans-have-always-tolerated-greater-intellectual-diversity-than/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Everyone suffers. Rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. It falls on both the rich and the poor too. Leftist materialists imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/everyone-suffers-rain-falls-on-the-just-and-the-unjust-alike-it-falls/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Criminal justice reformers prattle on about 'over-incarceration' in America when in fact our nation suffers from an under-incarceration problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/criminal-justice-reformers-prattle-on-about-over-incarceration-in/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Socialism ruins societies because it misunderstands human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/socialism-ruins-societies-because-it-misunderstands-human-nature/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Ronald Reagan was the best Ronald Reagan ever, and Ronald Reagan was a cool guy. You're not Ronald Reagan. You can't run as him;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/ronald-reagan-was-the-best-ronald-reagan-ever-and-ronald-reagan-was-a/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Donald Trump is certainly an American original. Barack Obama, he's an American original. Where else but in America could that man become president? George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/donald-trump-is-certainly-an-american-original-barack-obama-he-s-an/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) [Explore all 100 Michael J. Knowles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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