noun
republican system; republicanism
Refers to the political system in which the head of state is not a monarch, typically with elected representatives. Often contrasted with 君主制 (monarchy).
日本は立憲君主制だが、共和制を採用する国も多い。
Japan is a constitutional monarchy, but many countries adopt a republican system.
共和制の下では、大統領が国家元首となることが一般的だ。
Under a republican system, the president is generally the head of state.
民主主義 is democracy, a broader concept of popular rule; 共和制 specifically refers to the non-monarchical structure of government.
Compound of 共和 (kyōwa, 'republican cooperation') and 制 (sei, 'system'). 共和 is a Meiji-era coinage from Chinese 共和 (gònghé), originally referring to a regency period in ancient China and later repurposed to translate 'republic'.