What characteristic best describes a republic compared to a direct democracy?

A republic is best characterized by the system in which representatives are chosen to make decisions on behalf of citizens. This means that rather than every citizen voting directly on each law or policy, individuals elect representatives who then make legislative decisions. This structure allows for a more manageable governance system, especially in larger populations, where direct democracy (where citizens vote on laws directly) can be impractical.

In a republic, these elected representatives are accountable to the citizens, which introduces a layer of responsibility and oversight. Citizens express their preferences through elections, empowering a representative body to deliberate, debate, and decide on laws and policies that affect the society as a whole. This system is designed to balance individual interests with the common good, aiming for a stable governance framework that reflects the will of the people while managing the complexities of lawmaking.

The other options, while they may describe aspects of governance, do not accurately capture the essence of a republic. For example, direct citizen involvement in voting on every law is exclusive to direct democracies and not a feature of a republic. Likewise, requiring all citizens to engage in every legislative process is impractical and not a characteristic of either system. The emphasis on collective ownership of resources is more associated with certain economic systems rather than the fundamental political