True it is not a monarchy; it is also not a Oligarchy; a meritocracy; an Autochracy; a dictatorship; a plutocracy or any other form of government imaginable. In America the citizens run their government by personal participation and electing their representatives. Thats why the Constitutional Republic exists. As E says and all Poltical Science classes say and everyone else who thinks clearly says. The people hold the power of the government.Our Government is made up of local/state and federal bodies. The people participate directly in the local body; directly in the state body through referendum and directly in the Federal body through election. In America our government does not act independantly of the people. I don't know what they do in Odessa.