American Enlightenment federal republic states federal district five territories island possessions federation World Economic Forum democracy liberal representative democracy majority rule minority rights law state Enlightenment protected
The United States was founded on the principles of the American Enlightenment. It is a federal republic of 50 states, a federal district, five territories and several uninhabited island possessions. It is the world's oldest surviving federation, and, according to the World Economic Forum, the oldest democracy as well. It is a liberal representative democracy "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law."
