The United States, its 50 subordinate states and various territories are not run top down, but bottom up.  Kingdoms and communist countries are ruled top down.  

If Marvin Martian were to come to the United States and say take me to your leader, we would take Marvin to a governing body, not one person.  This may just confuse Marvin.  By history, people are led by an individual.  In the old testament, God first, then the judges, were not enough for the Israelites.  So first Saul, then David, the Solomon, then an earthly mess of failed kingdoms.

The founders of the United States had just dumped a tyrannical government led by the then King of England.  Based on their religious beliefs that all were created equal in God’s eyes and that liberty and freedom were nature’s desired way, the government they would create would be for the people by the people and not be a full time life long occupation, but an interruption for a few years then return to live under the laws they created.

They also knew that they would need to have dialog, discuss and debate issues to form the laws for the country.  These three D’s must be peaceful, but vibrant, based upon fact, knowledge, science, and empathy.  People cannot die during debate at the hands of others.  The debate if tried to be silenced will only create a strong debate and make the terminators look like fools and idiots.

The United States thrives with robust debate, discussion and dialog.  Anything less is worrisome and dangerous.