The Federal President : Germany

The head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany is the Federal President. He is elected by the Federal Convention, a constitutional body which convenes only for this purpose. It consists of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members elected by the state parliaments. Sometimes eminent persons who are not members of a state parliament are nominated for the Federal Convention. The Federal President is elected for a term of five years with the majority of votes in the Federal Convention. He may only be reelected once.

The Federal President represents the Federation in its international relations and concludes treaties with other states on its behalf. He also accredits and receives envoys, although foreign policy as such is the responsibility of the Federal Government. The Federal President appoints and dismisses federal judges, federal civil servants and commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the armed forces. The President can pardon convicted criminals. He checks whether laws have come about by the proper constitutional procedure; they are subsequently promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette.

He proposes to the Bundestag a candidate for the office of Federal Chancellor (taking account of the majority situation in parliament) and, in response to proposa’s from the Chancellor, appoints and dismisses the tec’-eral ministers. If the Chancellor seeks but fails to gain

vote of confidence, the Federal President may, on the Chancellor’s proposal, dissolve the Bundestag.
The Federal President personifies the country’s political unity in a special way. He is the link between all elements in society regardless of party distinctions. Although his tasks are mainly of a representational nature, he can exercise considerable personal authority through his neutral, mediating function. By commenting on the fundamental aspects of current issues, he can rise above general party-political controversy and set standards for the public’s political and moral guidance.