Republicanism refers to people holding all the political power?

The questioner commented, "It might be a true or false question... I had it on one of my test... but I don't know the answer :( "

Actually, it appears to be an incorrectly memorized true-or-false question.

Your initial question was not clear at all. Your writing would be much clearer if you learned to use complete sentences. Avoid the use of phrases separated by ellipses, sometimes called "three dots."

Remember: Clear writing leads to clear thinking and clear understanding. And do your own homework!

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In the broadest sense, "republicanism" means political philosophy that favors a system of representative government. In such a system, those who govern the nation and make the laws derive their authority from those who are governed, usually referred to as "the people." This was the basic founding principle of the United States. In simple terms, the rulers are chosen by those who are ruled.

In a republican form of government, no individual or institution has absolute, unbridled authority.

Officeholders can be impeached, for example. A special election can be held to remove them from office. And even while they are in office, their power is limited by a constitution and by a system of checks and balances. In the U.S. and most of Europe, high courts can overrule the legislature or parliament by striking down laws and other actions that are ruled to be unconstitutional. In many countries, the president can veto a law passed by the legislature, and, in turn, if an overwhelming majority votes to override the president's veto, a legislature can overturn the president's veto.

The term "democracy" has a somewhat different meaning than republicanism. In its purest sense, a "democracy" is a system where the people make the laws themselves, rather than electing representatives to make the laws. No such system exists in the world today.

But usually, the term "democracy" just means a system where the people (not God, not the Church, and not a king or a dictator) are the highest power in the land. They have to power to peacefully determine how they are governed. So a republican form of government is a type of democracy.

The term "Republican" can also refer to the name of an American political party. When used in that way, it identifies a party that advocates a particular approach to governance within the American system of representative government.

In the United States, Republicans and Democrats both favor a republican form of government. But, although their overall goals may be the same, their methods differ.

Republicans tend to favor a larger military and more aggressive foreign policy; reduced non-military spending; fewer restrictions on business and financial practices; fewer consumer protections, lower taxes on business and the wealthy, a greater role for religion in government; more prisons and longer sentences; tough drug laws; more government and police intrusion into matters of personal morality like abortion and drug use; and less government regulation of product and workplace safety.

Democrats, on the other hand, put more emphasis on diplomacy and peaceful settlement of disputes, and they favor strict separation of church and state, stronger gun laws; more spending on crime prevention and rehabilitation of criminals; more spending on education, science and research; more "social safety nets" to prevent joblessness, hunger and homelessness; more environmental protections; less government and police intrusion into matters of personal morality like abortion and drug use; and a greater role for government in protecting worker and consumer safety.