Our US Constitution
and
Oregon Constitution
creates our
Federal government and State government as Republics.
What is a Republic? (From Grok)
A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a "public matter" (from the Latin res publica, meaning "public affair" or "thing of the people"), and supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, rather than by a monarch or hereditary ruler.
Key characteristics that define a republic:
1. No hereditary monarch as head of state
The head of state (e.g., president) is elected or appointed for a limited term, not inherited.
2. Sovereignty rests with the people
Either directly (pure democracy) or through elected representatives.
3. Rule of law
The government operates under a constitution or set of fundamental laws that limit its power and protect citizens’ rights. No one, not even the leaders, is above the law.
4. Elected representatives
Citizens typically vote for lawmakers and sometimes the head of state.
5. Separation of powers (in most modern republics)
Legislative, executive, and judicial branches check and balance each other.
Common types of republics today:
Presidential republic (e.g., United States, Brazil, Indonesia) President is both head of state and head of government, elected separately from the legislature.
Semi-presidential republic (e.g., France, Russia) Has both a president (with significant powers) and a prime minister.
Parliamentary republic (e.g., Germany, Italy, India) The president is usually a ceremonial head of state; real power lies with the prime minister and parliament.
Historical examples:
Ancient Rome (509–27 BCE) – the original “Roman Republic”
Venice, Genoa, and other Italian city-states in the Middle Ages
The Dutch Republic (1588–1795)
Republic vs. Democracy
All modern republics are democracies (the people choose their leaders), but not all democracies are republics. For example:
The United Kingdom is a democracy (people vote) but not a republic because it has a hereditary monarch as head of state → it’s a constitutional monarchy.
In short: A republic = a state without a king or queen, where power ultimately comes from the people under the rule of law.
Deschutes Republicans
The Deschutes Republicans Central Committee is an autonomous official state PAC in Deschutes County. It has no paid employees (all volunteers). The committee performs duties prescribed by law and does all things necessary to carry on a full-time party program.
Deschutes Republicans Central Committee is made up of Precinct Committee Persons, elected and appointed, to serve from their Precinct. I want to find out more about being a PCP!
Meetings are held monthly at various locations. Click on “Events” in the menu bar above for more details.
We work to:
- Elect Republican candidates to office
- Promote Republican ideals and principles
- Register Republican voters
- Educate Republicans on the importance of voting
- Recruit and retain Precinct Committee Persons (PCP’s)
- Organize a “Get-Out-The-Vote” program
The Deschutes Republicans Central Committee sends a delegation (Chair, Vice Chair and 3 delegates) to the Oregon Republican Party.
Who Are Republicans? (Statewide and Nationally)
“The Republicans” are made up of 7 organizations. Each of these organizations is self-governing.
- Deschutes Republicans
- Oregon Republican Party (ORP)
- Oregon Senate Republicans, part of the Oregon Legislature, it is comprised of the Republicans elected to the Oregon Senate. They have a PAC also.
- Oregon House Republicans, part of the Oregon Legislature, it is comprised of the Republicans elected to the Oregon House. They have a PAC also.
- Republican National Committee (RNC)
- US Senate Republican Conference, part of Congress and their PAC: National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)
- US House Republicans Conference, part of Congress and their PAC: National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)