What are the stregnths and weaknesses of the Roman Republic political structure?

One of the strongest features of the Roman republic was
its very definition of the principle of republicanism.  In representing a government
where elected officials are meant to represent the will of the body politic proved to be
a lasting legacy to all governments that followed the Romans.  The United States
Constitution used the Roman Republic as an example of leadership and the principle of
republicanism was something embedded into the minds and hearts of the framers.  I think
that one of the weaknesses of such a system ended up becoming what happens when the
citizens' needs are not met by representative government.  Essentially, what redress is
there when a government committed to the nature of the people's wishes are not fully
embodied by said government?  This becomes a critical issue and something that helped to
destabilize the Roman government.  It is also a reality that all representative
governments must address, and in the process, one that helps to define the essence of
how different principles of government must work with one another to prevent the
weaknesses of one being exposed and making the government a crippled
one.