The Galactic Republic was the ruling government of the Universe for 25,034 years, until the establishment of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY. Although it was commonly known as the Old Republic, this was not so until after the establishment of the Empire; it's name when it existed was the Galactic Republic, or simply The Republic. Rarely it was refered to as The First Republic. At times, the term Old Order has been used to describe it. In it's latest years, it was a benvolent-though ineffectual-government tied up in layers of bureaucracy.