Parliamentary republic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament).  Constitutional monarchies are shown in red.
Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). Constitutional monarchies are shown in red.

A parliamentary republic or parliamentary constitutional republic is a form of a republic which operates under a parliamentary system of government.

In contrast to a presidential republic and the semi-presidential system, the head of state usually does not have broad executive powers as an executive president would, because much of those powers have been granted to a "head of government" (usually called a prime minister). However, the head of government and head of state may form one office in a parliamentary republic (such as South Africa and Botswana), but the president is still elected in much the same way as the prime minister is in most Westminster systems. This usually means that they are the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in parliament.

In some instances, the President may legally have executive powers granted to them to undertake the day-to-day running of government (as in Finland) but by convention they do not use these powers. Some parliamentary republics could therefore be seen as following the semi-presidential system but operating under a parliamentary system.

Contents

[edit] Historical development

Typically, parliamentary republics are states that were previously constitutional monarchies, with the position of head of state hitherto a monarch (and, in the case of some Commonwealth republics, formerly represented by a Governor General) being replaced by an elected non-executive president. There is also a large number of parliamentary republics that were once one-party states, like former fascist states (Italy, Germany, Austria and Portugal) and former Eastern Bloc countries.


[edit] List of current Parliamentary republics

Country Formerly Parliamentary republic adopted Head of state elected by
Flag of Albania Albania One-party state 1991 Parliament, by three-fifths majority
Flag of Austria Austria One-party state 1955 Direct, by second-round system
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh [1] Presidential republic (Part of Pakistan) 1971 Parliament
Flag of Botswana Botswana Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1966 Parliament
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria One-party state 1947 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Croatia Croatia One-party state (Part of Yugoslavia) 1991 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic One-party state (Part of Czechoslovakia) 1993 Parliament, by majority
Flag of Dominica Dominica British overseas territory 1978 Parliament, by majority
Flag of East Timor East Timor Military junta (Occupied by Indonesia) 1999 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Estonia Estonia One-party state (Part of Soviet Union) 1992 Parliament, by two-thirds majority
Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia One-party state 1991 Parliament, by two-thirds majority
Flag of Finland Finland Constitutional monarchy (Part of Russian Empire) 1919 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Germany Germany One-party state 1949 Federal assembly (Parliament and state delegates), by absolute majority
Flag of Greece Greece Military junta 1974 Parliament, by majority
Flag of Hungary Hungary One-party state 1990 Parliament, by absolute majority
Flag of Iceland Iceland Constitutional monarchy (Part of Denmark) 1944 Direct, by transferable vote
Flag of India India Constitutional monarchy 1950 Parliament and state legislators, by single transferable vote
Flag of Iraq Iraq One-party state 2005 Parliament, by two-thirds majority
Flag of Ireland Ireland Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1949 Direct, by single transferable vote
Flag of Israel Israel Protectorate (Part of British Mandate of Palestine) 1948 Parliament, by two-thirds majority
Flag of Italy Italy Constitutional monarchy 1946 Parliament, by majority
Flag of Latvia Latvia One-party state (Part of Soviet Union) 1991 Parliament
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania One-party state (Part of Soviet Union) 1990 Direct, by second-round system
Flag of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonia One-party state (Part of the Yugoslavia) 1991 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Malta Malta Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1974 Parliament, by majority
Flag of Mauritius Mauritius Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1992 Parliament, by majority
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia One-party state 1949 Parliament
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro One-party state (Part of Yugoslavia) 1992 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Poland Poland One-party state 1990 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Portugal Portugal Military junta 1976 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Samoa Samoa Territory of New Zealand 2007 Parliament
Flag of Singapore Singapore Constitutional monarchy (Part of Malaysia) 1965 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia One-party state (Part of Czechoslovakia) 1993 Parliament (before 1999)

Directly, by second-round system (since 1999)

Flag of Slovenia Slovenia One-party state (Part of Yugoslavia) 1991 Directly, by second-round system
Flag of South Africa South Africa Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1961 Parliament, majority
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Military junta (Occupied by France) 1802 Parliament [2]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1976 Parliament
Flag of Turkey Turkey Constitutional monarchy (Part of Ottoman Empire) 1923 Parliament, by two-thirds majority
Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) 1980 Parliament and regional council presidents, by majority

[edit] List of former Parliamentary republics

Country Year became a Parliamentary republic Year status changed Changed to Status changed due to
Flag of Brazil Brazil 1961 1963 Presidential system Referendum
Flag of Chile Chile 1891 1925 Presidential system Referendum
Flag of France French Third Republic 1870 1940 Vichy France and Free France German invasion (World War II)
Flag of France French Fourth Republic 1946 1958 Semi Presidential republic (French Fifth Republic) Political instability
Flag of Fiji Fiji 1987 2006 Military junta Military coup (2006)
Flag of Guyana Guyana 1970 1980 Semi Presidential republic Constitutional amendment
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan 1956 Presidential system Constitutional amendment
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria 1963 1979 Presidential system Constitutional amendment
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 1972 1978 Presidential system Constitutional amendment
Flag of Uganda Uganda 1963 1966 Presidential system Suspension of the constitution

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ In Bangladesh, a Caretaker government takes over for three months during parliamentary elections. The Caretaker government is headed by a Chief adviser (the last Chief Justice to retire), and a group of neutral, non-partisan advisers chosen from the civil society. During this time, the president has jurisdiction over the Ministry of defense and the Ministry of foreign affairs.
  2. ^ There is neither a prime minister nor a president of Switzerland. The President of the Swiss Confederation is merely primus inter pares in the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland.

[edit] See also