A government in the republican form; a government of the people ; a government by representatives chosen by the people. See In re Duncan, 139 U. S. 449, 11 Sup. Ct. 573, 35 L. Ed. 219; Eckerson v. Des Moines, 137 Iowa, 452, 115 N. W. 177; Minor v. Happersett. 21 Wall. 175, 22 L. Ed. 027; Kadderly v. Portland, 44 Or. 118, 74 Pac. 710.
“Federalist No. 14”: “In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region.”
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed14.asp