Final answer:
The governments of most Italian city-states were Republics where political power was held by middle-class merchants, wealthy families like the Medici, and powerful guilds. Florence, for example, had a constitution that limited the power of nobility and respected the opinions of individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The governments of most Italian city-states were Republics. Florence, for example, had a constitution that limited the power of nobility and allowed middle-class merchants, wealthy families like the Medici, and powerful guilds to hold political power. Although only a small percentage of the population had the right to vote, Florence prided itself on respecting the opinions of individuals, which was a key aspect of the Humanism movement in the 15th century.