Powers and duties of the President

(1) The President shall have the following powers and duties— (a) to assent to Bills and promulgate Bills duly passed by Parliament; (b) to convene and preside over meetings of the Cabinet; (c) to confer honours; (d) to make such appointments as may be necessary in accordance with powers conferred upon him or her by this Constitution or an Act of Parliament; (e) subject to this Constitution, to appoint, accredit, receive and recognize ambassadors, high commissioners, plenipotentiaries, diplomatic representatives and other diplomatic officers, consuls and consular officers; (f) to negotiate, sign, enter into and accede to international agreements or to delegate such power to ministers, ambassadors and high commissioners; (g) to appoint commissions of inquiry; (h) to refer disputes of a constitutional nature to the High Court; and (i) to proclaim referenda and plebiscites in accordance with this Constitution or an Act of Parliament. (2) The President may pardon convicted offenders, grant stays of execution of sentence, reduce sentences, or remit sentences: Provided that— (a) decisions under this subsection shall be taken in consultation with an Advisory Committee on the Granting of Pardon, the composition and formation of which shall be determined by an Act of Parliament; and (b) judgments in cases of impeachment of the President or Vice-President shall not be liable to pardon by the President. (3) The President shall each year, immediately before the consideration of the official budget, attend Parliament and shall— (a) address Parliament on the state of the nation and on the future policies of the Government at that time; (b) report on the policies of the previous year; and (c) respond to questions. [31 of 1994] (4) The President shall be called to Parliament to answer questions at such times as may be prescribed by the Standing Orders of Parliament or on a motion of the National Assembly. [4 of 2001] (5) Subject to this Constitution and any Act of Parliament, the President shall exercise all other powers reasonably necessary and incidental to the functions of his or her office in accordance with this Constitution. (6) The powers and functions of the President shall be exercised by him or her personally or by a member of the Cabinet or by a government official to whom the President has delegated such power in writing. [4 of 2001]