A republic is a form of government in which the people have the power to elect their leaders. The term 'republic' can be used to refer to a variety of different types of governments, including a COMMONWEALTH, a STATE, a NATION, and even a small country like CHAD. Plato's Republic is an influential work of philosophy that outlines his vision of an ideal society. The Malagasy Republic is a NATION located on the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.