That's the old "Gospel according to Webster". Lexicographers don't make good political scientists.
In a democracy such as existed in many of the Greek
city states (at least for a time and at least for free males), any question
could be put to a popular vote, the people could be appealed to at any time. In a constitutional republic (as we are supposed to have) appealing every decision to the popular vote is seen as mob rule and is looked down upon. We've done it from time to time, but it is done against our political system and the results have been poor.
The distinction is very important. We are a people ruled by laws, not men
and not mobs. Here we are supposed to be able to plan our very lives around principles of law and not worry about which way the wind is going to blow ten years from now. Doesn't always work that way, but we must keep those who find the distinciton tedious reminded from time to time that pure democracies are not to be greatly desired.
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