Parliamentary republic

In some countries the head of state has reserve powers to use at their discretion as a non-partisan "referee" of the political process.

The Fourth Republic saw an era of great economic growth in France and the rebuilding of the nation's social institutions and industry after the war, and played an important part in the development of the process of European integration, which changed the continent permanently.

As a result, the Fourth Republic collapsed and Charles de Gaulle was given power to rule by decree, subsequently legitimized by approval of a new constitution in a referendum on 28 September 1958 that led to the establishment of the French Fifth Republic in 1959.

In the case of many republics in the Commonwealth of Nations, it was common for the Sovereign, formerly represented by a Governor-General, to be replaced by a non-executive head of state.

This was the case in South Africa (which ceased to be a member of the Commonwealth immediately upon becoming a republic, and later switched to having an executive presidency), Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Vanuatu and since 30 November 2021, Barbados.

World's states coloured by systems of government :
Parliamentary systems : Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature
Constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial monarch
Parliamentary republic with a ceremonial president
Parliamentary republic with an executive president
Presidential system : Head of government (president) is popularly elected and independent of the legislature
Presidential republic
Hybrid systems:
Semi-presidential republic : Executive president is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature
Assembly-independent republic : Head of government (president or directory) is elected by the legislature, but is not accountable to it
Other systems:
Theocratic republic: Supreme Leader holds significant executive and legislative power
Semi-constitutional monarchy : Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power
Absolute monarchy : Monarch has unlimited power
One-party state : Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party
Military junta : Committee of military leaders controls the government; constitutional provisions are suspended
Provisional government : No constitutionally defined basis to current regime
Dependent territories or places without governments
Note: this chart represents the de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy.