Which Template Should I Choose? (Related topics)
There are two basic site templates—a public web site (with or without approval) and web forms. When you require web form functionality, choose a “public web site.” For more information, please see the Forms resource.
A public web site is associated with the approval workflow automatically. It is harder to add the approval workflow after the fact, so best practice is to build publishing sites with approval initially. Most websites bypass the approval process since site members have been given permission to publish content.
The approval process is used in a situation when content must be approved before it can be published. This decision is made at the departmental level.
If, for some reason, you don’t see the above master page layouts, follow the directions load the site templates.
Workarounds
How to Identify a With Approval Website
How to restore the With Approval site template as an option on your New Site interface
How to use a Publish button on pages in "with approval" websites
How to publish a page in a "With Approval" website that is not using Publish buttons on the page
How to Setup an Approvers Group for "With Approval" workflow
How to add a Web Part Role to a Group