# Elon Musk Using his Wealth to Threaten Politicians **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [December 20, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-using-his-wealth-to-threaten-politicians/1011918 "2024-12-20T14:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 42
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-using-his-wealth-to-threaten-politicians/1011918/42 "2024-12-21T17:56:06Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Can you find a dictionary (not written by you) that gives your definition? > > The UK is **not** a republic? Plenty: > [@](#): > > Definitions from [Oxford Languages](https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en) · [Learn more](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/10106608?hl=en) > > re·pub·lic > > /rəˈpəblik/ > > _noun_ > > a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and **which has an elected or [nominated](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b36f0451ab2e42e6&rlz=1CATMUU_enCA1067&sxsrf=ADLYWILvgxRAZKxHxXOBIE1xq6Dnczp17A:1734801892907&q=nominated&si=ACC90nxMSPeZfdJJjQgDsdZJuFuJqOk3qinPvozAK3XrP_2k3QO7Z8MtbKJ-NuuDDdNyvleZLtNBn6709kYZ5hyvJIp7Edglm9JIa8B9SFdWsMdW0-T9vSE%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQjtTUsLmKAxXXIDQIHRDAKdsQyecJegQIOxAO&cshid=1734802015225054) president rather than a [monarch]**([monarch meaning - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b36f0451ab2e42e6&rlz=1CATMUU_enCA1067&sxsrf=ADLYWILvgxRAZKxHxXOBIE1xq6Dnczp17A:1734801892907&q=monarch&si=ACC90nwUEXg6u2vxy-araGkF9MAxbf8CXmnpK-Dgmy7Jp4FReYMRLxt0KTO4RaK4-lJ_CYdeLLMH_cCRNdg6zlyKw76cwoj34gGbmD5hXTFHSb1cBSulaWo%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQjtTUsLmKAxXXIDQIHRDAKdsQyecJegQIOxAP&cshid=1734802015225054)). > [@](#): > > [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/republic-government) > Modern republics are founded on the idea that [sovereignty](https://www.britannica.com/topic/sovereignty) rests with the people, though who is included and excluded from the category of the people has varied across history. Because citizens do not govern the state themselves but through representatives, republics may be distinguished from [direct democracy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/direct-democracy), though modern representative [democracies](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracies) are by and large republics. **The term _republic_ may also be applied to any form of government in which the [head of state](https://www.britannica.com/topic/head-of-state) is not a hereditary [monarch](https://www.britannica.com/topic/monarchy).** > [@](#): > > [Cambridge Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/republic) > **a [country](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/country) without a [king](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/king) or [queen](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/queen)**, usually [governed](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/govern) by [elected](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/elect) [representatives](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/congressman) of the [people](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/people) and a [president](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/president): > [@](#): > > [Collins](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/republic) > A republic is a country where power is held by the people or the representatives that they elect. **Republics have presidents who are elected, rather than [kings](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/kings) or [queens](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/queens)**. > [@](#): > > Wikipedia > > A **republic** , based on the [Latin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin) phrase _[res publica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_publica)_ (‘public affair’), is a [state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_(polity)) in which [political power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(social_and_political)) rests with the [public](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public) through their [representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_assembly)—**in contrast to a [monarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy).**[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic#cite_note-OED-1)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic#cite_note-M-W-2) The UK is not a republic, nor are Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the other Commonwealth realms, who share the monarch as their head of state. In 1949, the Commonwealth recognised that republics could be full members, rather than only the monarchical states. > [@](#): > > [Commonwealth Declarations | Commonwealth](https://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealth-declarations#:~:text=London%20Declaration%2C%201949&text=At%20a%20Commonwealth%20Prime%20Ministers,Commonwealth%20of%20Nations%20was%20born). > > **London Declaration, 1949** > > India became independent in 1947. India wanted to become a republic which didn’t owe allegiance to the British king or queen, but it also wanted to stay a member of the Commonwealth. At a Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting in London in 1949, the London Declaration said that republics and other countries could be part of the Commonwealth. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was born. > [@](#): > > BBC: > [Which countries are in the Commonwealth, and what is it for?](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43715079) > > **2) The King isn’t the head of state in most Commonwealth countries** > > King Charles is the head of state in 14 Commonwealth countries - or realms - in addition to the UK. > > Most countries in the club are republics - with [Barbados the last to remove the UK monarch as its head of state in 2021](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59470843). [![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/15DD8/production/_129506598_commonwealth_numbers_update_640-2x-nc.png.webp) ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/15DD8/production/_129506598_commonwealth_numbers_update_640-2x-nc.png.webp) --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-using-his-wealth-to-threaten-politicians/1011918)._