§8. A _democracy_ is a government of the people; the word democracy being from the Greek _demos_, the people, and _krateo_, to govern. In a government purely democratic, the great body of freemen meet in one assembly to make and execute the laws. There were some such governments in ancient Greece; but they necessarily comprised small territories, scarcely more than a single town. The freemen of a state could not all meet in a single assembly. §9. The government of this country, though a government of the people, is not one of the kind just described; it is a republic. A _republic_ is a government in which the power to enact and execute the laws is exercised by representatives, who are persons elected by the people to act for them. Yet, as not only the election of representatives, but the adoption of the constitution or form of government itself is the act of the people; and as, therefore, all power comes from the people, the government is also democratic; and is properly called a _democratic republic_, or a _representative democracy_. §10. A republic is sometimes also called a _commonwealth_. _Common_ signifies general, and is applied to what belongs to or is used by the people generally. _Weal_ means welfare or happiness. _Wealth_ also was formerly sometimes used for weal. Hence _commonwealth_ means strictly the _common good_, or the _common happiness_. In a general sense it signifies a state; but it is properly applied to a free state, one in which the people enjoy common rights and privileges. Hence every state in the union is a commonwealth or republic. State Governments. Chapter V. The Nature and Objects of a Constitution, and the Manner in which it is made. §1. Of all the different forms of government which have existed, a republican government, on the plan of that which has been established in this country, is believed to be best adapted to secure the liberties of a people, and to promote the general welfare. Under the reign of a wise and virtuous ruler, the rights of person and property may be fully enjoyed, and the people may be in a good degree prosperous. But the requisite virtue and wisdom have seldom been found in any one man or a few men. And experience has proved that the objects of civil government may be best secured by a written constitution founded upon the will or consent of the people.