The statement that best explains the difference between the Mayan civilization and the Roman Republic is:
The Mayan civilization was led by a demigod monarch, and each Mayan city operated independently with its own culture and laws. The Roman Republic was a centralized system led by two consuls and a senate.
This accurately captures the contrasting political structures and governance of both civilizations. The Mayan civilization was characterized by a network of independent city-states, while the Roman Republic had a more unified and centralized government with shared political institutions.