Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 from Government Gazette.djvu/43



Chapter 5—The President and National Executive

The President

The President —

is the Head of State and head of the national executive; must uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic; and promotes the unity of the nation and that which will advance the Republic.

Powers and functions of President

The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of the national executive.

The President is responsible for —

assenting to and signing Bills; referring a Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration of the Bill’s constitutionality; referring a Bill to the Constitutional Court for a decision on the Bill’s constitutionality; summoning the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces or Parliament to an extraordinary sitting to conduct special business; making any appointments that the Constitution or legislation requires the President to make, other than as head of the national executive; appointing commissions of inquiry; calling a national referendum in terms of an Act of Parliament; receiving and recognising foreign diplomatic and consular representatives; appointing ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, and diplomatic and consular representatives; pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures; and conferring honours.

Executive authority of the Republic

The executive authority of the Republic is vested in the President.

The President exercises the executive authority, together with the other members of the Cabinet, by —