What form of government allows people to exercise power through elected officials?

The correct answer, which identifies a government form allowing people to exercise power through elected officials, is a republic. A republic operates under a system where representatives are elected by the populace to make decisions and create laws on their behalf. This system of governance emphasizes the role of the citizenry in choosing their leaders and having a say in governmental processes, thereby ensuring that power is derived from the consent of the governed.

In contrast, a monarchy typically involves a single ruler, usually a king or queen, who may inherit the throne and rule for life, with power often centralized and not subject to direct election by the people. A dictatorship is characterized by central authority in one individual or a small group, where the populace has little to no say in governance and elections, if they occur, are usually not free or fair. Anarchy represents the absence of a structured government or authority, leading to a state of chaos rather than organized governance, where elected officials have no role at all.