The book that I am recommending for providing the basic understanding the formation of states and how they can be controlled by the citizens is:
Scott GORDON: Controlling the State: Constitutionalism from Ancient Athens to Today, Cambridge [Harvard UP; 1999].
The relevant chapters are:
5. Republic of Venice
6. The Dutch Republic
7. 17th Century England
8. American Constitutionalism
9. Modern Britain.
You could persuade me to allow the Roman Republic [Chapter 3].
Molly and will have photocopies of the chapters, photocopies you may and duplicate. The book cost $41 at Amazon, and I suspect it could be had for half that price at Smith Family Bookstore or at Powell's in Portland. Sorry, no Kindle Edition.