Italian states like venice and florence were officially republics. in what sense were they republics in name only?

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Italian states like Venice and Florence were officially republics. They were republics in name only because people were not allowed to vote. Rich people controlled these city-states.  

During the Italian Renaissance, the most important city-states were Florence, Venice, and Milan. These city-states had its own governments. Political power in Republics such as Florence and Venice relied on merchants, guilds, and powerful families like the Medici.

a change of venue is the legal term for moving a trial to a new location. a change of venue request because venue is improper means that the removing defendant believes that the case may not be in that venue because it is improper under procedural rules.