President of Sanctaria
| President of the Divine Republic of Sanctaria | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of Sanctaria | |
| File:Presidential Standard of Sanctaria.png Presidential Standard | |
| Style |
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| Residence | Eagleston Manor, Sanctus, Sanctaria |
| Term length | 10-12 years renewable once |
| Formation | 11 November 1974 |
| Salary | S£400,000 |
| Website | president.sct |
The President of Sanctaria, more formally the President of the Divine Republic of Sanctaria or President of the Divine Republic, is the head of state of Sanctaria, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Sanctarian Armed Forces.
The President holds office for ten years, though this can be extended to twelve years in times of national crisis or emergency. They can be elected for a maximum of two terms, and are directly elected by the people. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but thee President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute discretion. The President acts as chief representative of the Divine Republic and as a guardian of the constitution. The President's official residence is Eagleston Manor, located in the capital city of Sanctus. The office was established by the Constitution of Sanctaria in 1974.
The current President is Marion Woodstrom, who was elected on 28 April 2012. She was inaugurated on 02 May 2012. President Woodstrom is a former Governor of Munsteran; at the time of her election, Munsteran was, despite being de facto and de jure independent, still officially a dependancy of Sanctaria; since then it has achieved full independence. Woodstrom holds dual Sanctarian and Munsterani citizenship. She is the first non-resident of Sanctaria to win election as President. She is a member of the Democratic Left Party, joining prior to her election; while in Munsteran, she was a member of the Liberal Party.
Ordinary duties and functions
The Constitution of Sanctaria provides for a parliamentary system of government, under which the role of the head of state is largely a ceremonial one. The President is formally one of three parts of the national parliament, which also comprises the House of Deputies (the lower house) and the Senate (the upper house).
Unlike many other parliamentary democracies, the President is not even the nominal chief executive. Rather, executive authority is expressly vested in the Government (cabinet). The Government is obliged, however, to keep the President generally informed on matters of domestic and foreign policy. Most of the functions of the President may be carried out only in accordance with the strict instructions of the Constitution, or the binding 'advice' of the Government. The President does, however, possess certain personal powers that may be exercised at his or her discretion.
Constitutional functions
The main functions are prescribed by the Constitution:
- Appoints the government
- The President formally appoints the Prime Minister of Sanctaria and other ministers, and accepts their resignations. The Prime Minister is appointed upon the nomination of the House of Deputies, and the President is required to appoint whomever the House designates without the right to decline appointment. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed upon the nomination of the Prime Minister and approval of the Senate; as with appointing the Prime Minister, the President is required to make the appointment without the right to appoint someone else. Ministers are dismissed on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister must, unless there is a dissolution of the House, resign upon losing the confidence of the house.
- Appoints the judiciary
- The President appoints the judges to all courts in Sanctaria, on the advice of the Government.
- Convenes and dissolves the parliament
- This power is exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister; government or House/Senate approval is not needed. The President may only refuse a dissolution when a Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House.
- Signs bills into law
- The President cannot veto a bill that the House and the Senate have adopted. However, he/she may refer it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court upholds the bill, the President must sign it. If, however, it is found to be unconstitutional, the President will decline to give assent.
- Represents the state in foreign affairs
- This power is exercised only on the advice of the Government. The President accredits ambassadors and receives the letters of credence of foreign diplomats. Ministers sign international treaties in the President's name.
- Supreme Commander of the Sanctarian Armed Forces
- This role is somewhat similar in statute to that of a commander-in-chief. An officer's commission is signed and sealed by the President. This is a nominal position, the powers of which are exercised on the advice of the Government.
- Power of pardon
- The President, on the advice of the Government, has "the right of pardon and the power to commute or remit punishment".
Special limitations
- The President may not leave the state without the consent of the Government.
- Every formal address to the nation, or to either or both Houses of Parliament must have prior approval of the Government. Other than on these occasions, there is no limitation on the President's right to speak. However, by convention, Presidents refrain from direct criticism of the Government.