Chapter 8: Presidential powers and veto rights

This chapter summarizes current constitutional design regarding presidential powers and veto rights. It is based on the review of national constitutions and seeks to establish a common ground for writing and amending constitutions. The presidential guardian function, the controversial crisis function, the arbitral and mediation function and the executive function form the first part of the review followed by an analysis of the system of countersigning. Defining whether the clause is positive or negative, who countersigns and what the consequences of no countersignature are, form important structural features of a constitutional clause. Finally, the presidential veto is broken in its components: an absolute or suspensive veto, limitation of the veto power and legislative overriding of the veto. This chapter forms part of Vol. I of Writing Constitutions.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94602-9_8