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A constitutional republic is a state in which the head of state and other officials are representatives of the people. They must govern within an existing constitution.
In a constitutional republic, executive, legislative, and judicial powers may be separated into distinct branches.
A state is constitutional if a constitution limits the government's power. If the people choose by election the head(s) of state and other officials, then the state is a republic. The United States of America and Republic of Iceland are examples of constitutional republics.
In practice, the term is not so clear. There are republics with constitutions which the head of state can ignore. There are democratic monarchies which have unwritten constitutions, and where the monarch is not the head of government. One element which varies greatly is the nature of the election system.
Vaishali was the capital of the Vajjian Confederacy, an early republic from ancient India
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Neptune offers the wealth of the sea to Venice, 1748–50. This painting is an allegory of the power of the Republic of Venice
Beginning of the Republic of Metz. Election of the first Head-Alderman in 1289, by Auguste Migette. Metz was then a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Emperor
Europe 1914 monarchies (red) versus republics (blue)
Europe 1950 monarchies (red) versus republics (blue)
A 1920s poster that commemorates the permanent President of the Republic of China Yuan Shikai and the provisional President of the Republic Sun Yat-sen
