In Chinese, the same “word” may have four different meanings — depending on the tone of voice. In English a “sound” may have different meanings, depending on the context or the spelling. Pundits and politicians should use words in ways that are understandable and fair. We often talk past each other because we use different language even if we all speak or write English.
Nonprofit or not-for-profit
Nonprofit corporation, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Edition) (2009):
“nonprofit corporation. (1908) A corporation organized for some purpose other than making a profit, and usu[ally] afforded special tax treatment. – Also termed not-for-profit corporation.”
Nonprofit, Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)
not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit
a nonprofit research center
These terms are often meant to suggest that the source of the information is benevolent, neutral, unbiased, not motivated by the love of money, and, at the least, thrifty. However, “nonprofit” means only that there are no stockholder dividends after all the salaries and other expenses are paid.
Nonprofits have a wide range ideologically. They may pay their top staff millions of dollars in salary and still be “nonprofits.” The news media and honest pundits should not use “nonprofit” at all unless the question is whether an organization is actually entitled to that tax status.
Bipartisan
How often have you seen the term “bipartisan” used with respect to legislation that the writer approves? According to Merriam-Websters, it means:
1. of, relating to, or involving members of two parties
a bipartisan commission
2. specifically : marked by or involving cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties
bipartisan support for the bill
The significance of bipartisanship depends… In the North Carolina House of Representatives, there are 120 members. When all are present, 61 is a majority and 72 is the number of votes needed to override a governor’s veto. Currently, there are 71 Republicans and 49 Democrats.
When all are present and voting, and assuming a veto override is necessary, is a vote “bipartisan” when:
- The bill receives 72 Republican votes and three Democrat votes?
- The bill receives 69 Republican votes and three Democrat votes?
- The bill receives 60 Republican votes and 12 Democrat votes?
- The bill receives 32 Republican votes and 40 Democrat votes, or 40 Republican votes and 32 Democrat votes?
Only the situations in 3 and 4 deserve the term “bipartisan.” A skilled reporter would also look at the sponsorship of a bill, not only amongst the three or four primary sponsors. Situations 1 and 2 may include three stray votes obtained by coercion of or logrolling with a retiring member.
A clearly bipartisan committee or commission would consist of membership proportional by party with the majority given the benefit of irregular fractions. But if nonmembers from the majority, “floaters,” can run in to vote, then the term bipartisan is misleading.
Democracy or a republic?
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands . . .”
Thomas Jefferson was the first president elected for the Democratic-Republican party.
Is the United States a republic with some features of democracy? Or is it a democracy with the central feature of a republic — NO Monarchy, whether hereditary or not; and with no one above the law? Dictionary definitions are not always precise.
Democracy
According to the Law Dictionary, democracy is:
That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens; as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy. According to the theory of a pure democracy, every citizen should participate directly in the business of governing, and the legislative assembly should comprise the whole people. But the ultimate lodgment of the sovereignty being the distinguishing feature, the introduction of the representative system does not remove a government from this type. However, a government of the latter kind is sometimes specifically described as a “representative democracy.”
While according to Merriam Webster, democracy is:
1. government by the people : rule of the majority: such as
a. a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions,
policies, laws, etc. according to law
Free and fair elections are a hallmark of American democracy.—CISA.gov
2. a country, state, etc. whose form of government is democracy : a political unit that has a democratic government
Western democracies
a parliamentary democracy such as Canada or the United Kingdom
There is another idea of “democracy,” sung by Judy Collins and written by Leonard Cohen. It is not intended as a definition. Too many Americans equate their opinion of what a good life would be as democracy.
Republic
According to the Law Dictionary, a republic is:
A commonwealth; a form of government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the general body of citizens, and in which the executive power is lodged in officers chosen by and representing the people, and holding office for a limited period, or at most during good behavior or at the pleasure of the people, and in which the legislative power may be (and in modern republics is) intrusted to a representative assembly. See Federalist, No. 39; Republic of Mexico v. De Arangoiz, 5 Duer (N. Y.) 636; State v. Harris, 2 Bailey (S. C.) 599. In a wider sense, the state, the common weal, the whole organized political community, without reference to tle form of government; as in the maxim interest reipulliear ut sit finis litium. Co. Litt. 303.
1. a government in which the power belongs to a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by the leaders and representatives elected by those citizens to govern according to law
2. a country, state, or territory having a republican government
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands …—Francis Bellamy
The United States, which the eighteenth-century American elite sought to refashion as a new Roman Republic …—Michael Lind
Merriam-Webster provides a third definition of republic, which is a corruption of the term.
3. a country, state, or territory that is headed by someone other than a hereditary monarch
but whose citizens do not hold real power
the former Soviet republics
Note: In modern times, this sense is used in the names of various countries whose forms of government vary greatly and include dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.
Many conservatives will fervently say “America is a republic — not a democracy.” We have a republic “if we can keep it,” as Ben Franklin said.” Thanks to George Washington, we have kept it.
Our republic has many democratic features — we choose our leaders in elections by democratic means. Legislation requires a majority or supermajority vote. But not entirely — the composition of the US Senate is decidedly non-democratic — two members represent Delaware and still only two for Texas.
Progressives call everything they dislike an attack on “democracy.” What they might mean is that some of what they dislike is an attack on the republican form of government — not an attack on “democracy.”
A curious claim of the left (and uninformed others) is the current dispute over the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court election. Judge Griffin has filed protests — asking whether approximately 5,000 votes cast were countable. He has not claimed that he should win even if he received fewer countable votes than his opponent. He is not attacking democracy.
DEAR READERS
Send your nomination of words that confuse policy to paulstam@stamlawfirm.com. This is the second installment in a series. For Part I, which explores corruption, liberal/conservative/progressive, and legalize/decriminalization, click here.
