Many people use the terms republic and democracy interchangeably, but they actually refer to different forms of government. In a democracy, power is held by the people, who exercise that power either directly or through elected representatives. This means that decisions are made through popular vote, and the majority rules. On the other hand, a republic is a form of government in which power is held by elected officials who represent the interests of the people. These officials are not subject to the whims of the majority, as in a pure democracy, but instead are bound by a constitution or set of laws. The key difference between a republic and a democracy lies in how they handle decision-making processes. In a democracy, decisions are made by popular vote, whereas in a republic, decisions are made by elected officials who are expected to act in the best interests of the people they represent. In the United States, for example, the Founding Fathers established a republic to ensure that decisions would be made by representatives who were accountable for their actions and bound by the Constitution. This system of government was chosen to protect individual rights and prevent the tyranny of the majority, while still allowing for popular participation in the political process.