>>23
Ok let me ask you something.
Is a nation a republic if every law passed by the elected representitives must be approved by unelected gatekeepers? How about if said gatekeepers could not only remove laws from the books, but tell the elected leaders of the nation what laws must be passed? That's our system right now -- the people may speak, but if the Judicial Ayatollahs don't like what the people say, then it doesn't matter.
And I choose the word Ayatollah carefully -- the system we have now is similare to the "Republic" of Iran. The people have "elections" and choose presidents and parliments, but all candidates and laws must be approved by the Supreme Council of Iran. If they don't like it, it can't happen even if every single person in Iran wants it. we are heading that direction.