Which describes a republic as opposed to a direct democracy?

• A. A republic relies on monarchs to legislate; a direct democracy relies on citizens.
• B. A republic uses elected representatives; a direct democracy has citizens voting on laws themselves.
• C. A republic delegates lawmaking to elected representatives; a direct democracy involves citizens voting on laws themselves.
• D. A republic requires a formal constitution; a direct democracy does not.

Answer: (C)

In a republic, lawmaking is handled by elected representatives who act on behalf of the people, with those representatives being accountable through elections. This setup lets a community govern large or diverse populations by having trained individuals deliberate and craft laws, rather than having every citizen vote on every measure. In contrast, direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on laws themselves, without a layer of elected representatives shaping or approving them. The statement that best describes a republic is that it delegates lawmaking to elected representatives, while a direct democracy involves citizens voting on laws themselves. It's common for republics to have constitutions that set limits and protect rights, but the defining distinction is representation versus direct vote.