Republics, Monarchies, and Democracy: Key Government Types

What Is a Republic?

A republic can be defined as a state where the head of state is not a monarch — as noted in Webster's Third International Dictionary — but where the people are also represented in government and in the decisions made within a certain framework. This is more typically the case in democratic republics, although some form of representation generally existed in dictatorships as well, even if it was not functional in practice.

Another important characteristic of a republic is that the head of state is elected, through one mechanism or another, by the people. Even dictatorships that operate as republics in name still derive some formal structure from this principle, however distorted the practice may be. The Soviet Union offered a notable example: its leaders were not elected by the people but were instead chosen through the internal mechanisms of the Communist Party, yet it formally styled itself a republic.

Parliamentary vs. Presidential Republics

In a parliamentary republic, such as Germany, the president is elected by the Parliament, which was itself elected by the people. In these types of republics, the role of the president is usually limited, and the head of government tends to play a more important role in managing the country's affairs.

In a presidential republic, such as France, the president is elected directly by the people through a round of voting in a presidential election. This represents a more direct expression of the people's choice. However, as previously noted, republics that also function as dictatorships can still be considered republics even if they are not representative democracies.

Constitutional and Absolutist Monarchies

The other major form in which a large nation can be administratively structured is a monarchy, either constitutional or absolutist. In a monarchy, the head of state is a king or emperor. The monarchy's defining characteristic is that it is hereditary: the monarchical right to rule passes from generation to generation within the same family or family line.

There are two types of monarchies, both in current practice and throughout history: constitutional and absolutist. The constitutional monarchy is the form most commonly found today. Great Britain and Japan are two prominent examples, where the head of state remains the queen or the emperor respectively. In a constitutional monarchy, the head of state generally plays a representative role only, while the main decisions are made by the government.

In an absolutist monarchy, by contrast, the monarch is also considered the de facto head of government, participates actively in the decision-making process, and ultimately has the final word on decisions made. Today's world offers few remaining examples of absolutist monarchies — Bhutan and Nepal were once cited as cases, but recent political changes in those countries disqualify them. Historically, France under its ancien régime is probably the best-known example of an absolutist monarchy.