What is one characteristic of a republic?

A defining characteristic of a republic is the presence of elected representatives who make decisions on behalf of the citizens. In a republic, power resides with the people, but instead of direct participation in the legislative process, individuals elect officials to represent their interests and make decisions concerning governance. This system allows for a structured government where representatives are accountable to the electorate and can be replaced through elections.

In contrast, a centrally controlled economy refers to a system where the government or a central authority makes economic decisions, which is not inherently a feature of a republic. An absolute monarchy involves a single ruler with unquestionable power, which is opposite to the representative governance of a republic. Finally, direct democracy involves all citizens participating directly in policy-making, rather than electing representatives, which is not how a republic operates.