The State President of the Republic of South Africa (Afrikaans: Staatspresident van Suid-Afrika) is the head of state as well as the head of the executive government of South Africa. The post was preceded by the Governor General of the Union of South Africa, which was abolished in 1961 when South Africa became a republic and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be monarch. The officeholder was a ceremonial head of state under the 1961 Constitution Act. It became an executive post when the 1983 Constitution Act was enacted. The 1995 Constitution Act reaffirmed it as an executive office and further extended its powers and functions.