Rather, they elect representatives to a legislative body who can then represent their interests but who can only pass laws that adhere to the principles of the Constitution.One of the main principles of the U.S. Constitution is the division of powers among the three parts of the government, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, through a system of checks and balances. In a republic, a constitution or charter of rights protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if it has been elected by a majority of voters. East Germany • 1949–1960 (first) This is a republican system of government, because there is no point at which a self-appointed or hereditary sovereign can hope to retain power against durable public … “A democratic republic is a country that is both a republic and a democracy.