REPUBLICANISM vs direct democracy.
Republicanism is a type of government where the people elect representatives to represent them in congress.
A direct democracy is rule by the majority of people.
While Republics operate while observing the unalienable rights of people, a Democracy is concerned with the wants of the largest group of people.
It is common for people who are asked "what kind of government does the United States have?" most people will answer "a democracy". This is not true, the form of government we have is a Republic.