The argument is moot. The people of the united States of America forfeited their Sovereignty in 1913 when they allowed the establishment of the not "Federal" Reserve bank system. The world bankers own and control the U.S., not to mention many other nations around the world. The 16th Amendment in the same year was just icing on the cake. How many people in this country today do you know who don't cringe when the IRS is mentioned? We've all become serfs and slaves to our own government and until the people of this Federal Republic are ready to stand up and shout to the corrupt little tyrants in Washington " Enough" there is no point in arguing the difference between republics and democracies.