a republic

Is the United States still a republic?

…we may define a republic to be… a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behavior. It is ESSENTIAL to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or a favored class of it; otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans, and claim for their government the honorable title of republic.

—James Madison, Federalist No. 39

Was it ever?

Either way, if you agree that a republican (small r) form of government is a worthy aspiration, what do we need to do to attain (or keep) it?