USA is NOT the world’s oldest democracy.
That honor lies with England.
The US has been called the oldest democracy by previous administrations; it must be a cut-and-paste thing from year to year. This excerpt is from a White House press release from 12 years ago:
The United States, Mr. Prime Minister, joins India as a
partner on this journey. Our two nations share a special
bond. As the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s
largest democracy, we are, in your words, “natural
allies.” Our cultures and customs differ, but we share a
strong commitment to democracy and equality for all. We
are proof that diversity is strength, and that freedom is
power.
Source:
http://groups.google.com/group/gov.us.fed.eop.white-house.announce/msg/1a9f878228ae2bea?dmode=source
Be sure to give us all a ping the next time the subjects of the United Kingdom get to nominate and elect their next head of state!
I wouldn’t say that is strictly true. Britain was more of an elective oligarchy that gradually evolved into a representative democracy thanks to various reform acts in 1832, 1867, 1884, 1918 and 1928, each time gradually expanding the franchise until universal adult suffrage was finally achieved...
How is a monarchy a democracy?