According to Rousseau what is a defining characteristic of a republic

Rousseau defines the sovereign as all the citizens acting collectively. Together, they voice the general will and the laws of the state. The sovereign cannot be represented, divided, or broken up in any way: only all the people speaking collectively can be sovereign.

Explanation:

Citizens have the power to govern. Citizens delegate or entrust their power to leaders they elect to represent them and to serve their interests ... The people in a republic have to be very much alike.