Final answer:
A representative democracy is a system where citizens elect representatives to make public decisions on their behalf, characterized by the protection of individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes a representative democracy (republic) is: C. A governing system in which public decision making is delegated to representatives of the people chosen by them. In a representative democracy, citizens elect officials like members of Congress and the president to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. This system differs from a direct democracy, where citizens would make all decisions themselves, and from a pure democracy, where the majority rules without necessarily considering the rights or needs of the minority. In contrast, a republic emphasizes the protection of individual rights, even if they differ from the majority's opinion.