I believe it to be a social contract with citizens . I Think I said that in my previous post although I was perhaps not clear. It is a difficult thing to define, is it not. But I tend to think of it as a contract between two parties who have a covenant with other. I think Americans have that in principle,although I also see the flaws. But I still believe that America is a democracy in spite of the flaws. Americans and many others have rule of law, freedom, rights and responsibilty, and many other things that in less than ideal countries, simply do not exist.