That's a good question. The difference between a democracy and a democratic republic is not very clear-cut, as both terms have been used to describe various forms of government throughout history. However, one possible way to distinguish them is based on the extent to which the people have direct control over the process of making laws.

In a pure democracy, the people themselves make the laws by voting on every issue. This is only feasible in a small society with a high degree of consensus. In a democratic republic, the people elect representatives who make the laws on their behalf. This allows for a larger and more diverse society, but also introduces the risk of corruption and tyranny by the majority.

The United States is an example of a democratic republic, where the citizens elect a president and members of Congress to represent their interests in the federal government. The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights also limit the power of the government and protect the rights of the minority from the will of the majority. However, some aspects of the U.S. system, such as direct elections of senators and initiatives and referendums in some states, also reflect elements of direct democracy.
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