The Farmers called our government a republic instead of a democracy because they wanted to be clear that they were creating a representative constitutional democracy and not a direct democracy.

Question

If the Framers were alive today?
1. What do you think they would say about our move towards direct democracy.
2. Would they be right?

Answer 1

I don't think the Framers would change. The direct democracy can easily lead to tyranny of the majority over the minority. So what if 80 percent of the voters vote that all citizens will be baptized into the Baptist church? The framers were very afraid of the direct democracy, as it could lead to (religious) tyranny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy#United_States