Cicero considered any true “republic” (“res publica”) to be the property of the people (“res
populi”), when the people band together to pursue shared justice and their common good.
States exist to realize in fact the truths that philosophers try to capture in words.
This could be attempted through various forms of government, but Cicero suggested that the most effective would.
be “mixed” (“moderatus et permixtus”), combining and balancing the best aspects of various public
institutions. Cicero believed that “Liberty” (“libertas”), for example, (“qua quidem nihil potest esse dulcius”) thrives
best in a state where the people have ultimate power, and all citizens have equal legal rights,
and the vote, but some decisions will still need to be made by experts, or by the expeditious
action of a single authority. This balanced constitution (“constitutio”) will be more fair, Cicero
suggested, but also more stable than other forms of government.