The Parliament of the Union of South Africa, which was established in 1910, had several synonyms over the years. One of the earliest synonyms was the South African Parliament, which was used until the country became a republic in 1961. After the Republic of South Africa was established, the Parliament was often referred to as the South African Republic Parliament or simply the Republic Parliament. In 1994, following the election that ended apartheid, the Parliament was renamed the Parliament of South Africa. Today, it continues to be known by this name, with the additional title of the National Assembly. The Parliament serves as the legislative branch of the government of South Africa, with the power to create laws and oversee the actions of the executive branch.