Republic

A commonwealth; a form of government which derives ali its powers directly or indirectly from the general body of citizens, and in which the executive power is lodged in officers chosen by and representing the people, and holding office for a limited period or at most during good behavior or at the pleasure of the people, and in which the legislative power may be (and in modern republics is) intrusted to a representative assembly.

See Federalist, No. 39; Republic of Mexico v. De Arangoiz, 5 Duer (N. Y.) 636; State v. Harris, 2 Balley (S. C.) 599.

In a wider sense, the sinte, the common weal, the whole organized political community, without reference to the form of government; as in the maxim interest reipublicæ ut sit finis litium, Co. Litt. 303.