--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In America, we do not have a democracy…" description: "\"In America, we do not have a democracy. It's not what we have. We have a representative republic and therefore the rules and regulations that have been..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-we-do-not-have-a-democracy-it_360222.jpg" --- # In America, we do not have a democracy. It's not what we… ![“In America, we do not have a democracy. It's not what we have. We have a representative republic and therefore the rules and regulations that have been written to maintain it are not truly democratic - not purely democratic - in origin. They are about protecting and defending the establishment of…” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-we-do-not-have-a-democracy-it_360222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-we-do-not-have-a-democracy-it_360222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-we-do-not-have-a-democracy-it_360222.jpg) > “In America, we do not have a democracy. It's not what we have. We have a representative republic and therefore the rules and regulations that have been written to maintain it are not truly democratic - not purely democratic - in origin. They are about protecting and defending the establishment of this republic.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The United States operates as a representative republic, not a pure democracy, with rules designed to protect the system. **In simple terms:** America is a republic, not a direct democracy. Key Takeaway Understand the limits of democratic participation. Themes politics government democracy republic constitution Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - voting - civic engagement - policy debate - education on government - activism Key Concepts Republicanism constitutional law separation of powers Questions to Reflect On - How does representation affect citizen influence? - What safeguards ensure the republic's stability? A Different Perspective Pure democracy is impractical in large societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Rules and regulations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-and-regulations/) ## Related quotes > [America is not a democracy. I think if your kids understood that - and most people don't. We are a representative republic. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/america-is-not-a-democracy-i-think-if-your-kids-understood-that-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It's precisely because America is not a democracy that we have survived! It's precisely because majority rule does have checks and balances on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-s-precisely-because-america-is-not-a-democracy-that-we-have/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Ultimately our problems will not be solved by the right man (or woman) in the White House. It simply doesn’t work that way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-webb/ultimately-our-problems-will-not-be-solved-by-the-right-man-or-woman/) [Derek Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-webb/) > [“This is a micro-democracy, not a representative dictatorship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malka-ann-older/this-is-a-micro-democracy-not-a-representative-dictatorship/) [Malka Ann Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malka-ann-older/) > [My primary motivation for running for the 9th Congressional District is that I strongly believe that one of the hallmarks of the American democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-herenton/my-primary-motivation-for-running-for-the-9th-congressional-district/) Willie Herenton > [To some,Islam is nothing but a code of rules and regulations.But,to those who understand,it is a perfect vision of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/to-some-islam-is-nothing-but-a-code-of-rules-and-regulations-but-to/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Any society has to delegate the responsibility to maintain a certain kind of order. Enforcing regulations, making sure people stop at stoplights. We can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/any-society-has-to-delegate-the-responsibility-to-maintain-a-certain/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [When our faith becomes nothing more than a series of rules and regulations, joy flees and our love for Christ grows cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-our-faith-becomes-nothing-more-than-a-series-of-rules-and/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I've seen so many people in my life struggle tremendously to fit into those boxes or to live up to those expectations or pressures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-westfeldt/i-ve-seen-so-many-people-in-my-life-struggle-tremendously-to-fit-into/) [Jennifer Westfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-westfeldt/) > [Life can be lived in rules, but then life becomes superficial. Live life not according to the laws but according to consciousness, awareness. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-can-be-lived-in-rules-but-then-life-becomes-superficial-live/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The government has the right to change laws and rules and regulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/the-government-has-the-right-to-change-laws-and-rules-and-regulations/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [ Marla \[from Rules Don't Apply\] especially, believed that she has a certain set of rules that she had to abide by, in order to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/marla-from-rules-don-t-apply-especially-believed-that-she-has-a/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [For indeed, grace is the key to it all. It is not our lavish good deeds that procure salvation, but God's lavish love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/for-indeed-grace-is-the-key-to-it-all-it-is-not-our-lavish-good-deeds/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Life cannot be administered by definite rules and regulations; that wisdom to deal with a man's difficulties comes only through some knowledge of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/life-cannot-be-administered-by-definite-rules-and-regulations-that/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple stupid behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-hock/simple-clear-purpose-and-principles-give-rise-to-complex-intelligent/) [Dee Hock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-hock/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [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/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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