The President of the Republic of Honduras (Spanish: Presidente de la República de Honduras), is the head of state and head of government of Honduras, as well as the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. According to the 1982 Constitution of Honduras, the post's primary function is to "Execute and enforce the Constitution, treaties and conventions, laws and other legal dispositions." The constitution also dictates that the president is elected directly by the people to a single four-year term.
After the Central America Declaration of Independence publication in Honduras, the Constitution of Honduras in 1825 created three powers: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
The Government of Honduras consists of three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
The President of the Republic is both the head of state and the head of the government. The president is elected by a popular vote for a four-year term, but is term-limited and therefore cannot seek re-election after the first term has expired.
The National Congress of Honduras consists of 128 Deputies elected to four-year terms. There are no term limits. Deputies are elected to office under the proportional representation of elections; each political party appoints office holders in proportion to the number of votes won in a general election.
The judiciary includes a Supreme Court of Justice; the Supreme Court of Honduras, a Court of Appeal, and several courts of original jurisdiction, like labor, taxes, criminal, etc. The judges of the Supreme Court of Justice are chosen for a period of seven years by the National Congress.
Section V, Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Honduras of 1982 establishes the President as the executive branch of government and sets forth the powers and qualifications for the office. Qualifications are extremely stringent, designed to prevent a dictatorship by political, military, or business figures. To be eligible to run for president, the candidate is required to:
Be a natural-born Honduran.
Be more than 30 years old at the time of the election.
Be able to enjoy the full rights of Honduran citizenship.
Not be an official of any church or religious denomination.
Not be in active military service during the six months prior to the election.
Not be a Presidential appointee, secretary or under-secretary of state, judge, or member of the electoral court, attorney general or deputy attorney, Comptroller General or Deputy Comptroller General, or an executive of a privately held institution for at least six months prior to the election.
Not be an officer of the armed forces or law enforcement, or an active soldier therein for at least 12 months prior to the election.
Not be the spouse or relative of the President or any military leader.
Not have been president already.
The President of Honduras serves one four-year term and is not eligible for re-election.
The Constitution ascribes 45 specific rights and powers to the office of the Presidency:
To execute and enforce the Constitution, treaties and conventions, laws and other legal dispositions.
To direct the general policy of the State and represent it.
To maintain the independence, honor, integrity, and inviolability of Honduras.
To maintain the peace and security of the Republic and repel any attack or foreign aggression.
To freely appoint and remove the secretaries of his cabinet, and other posts whose appointments are not assigned to other officials.
To call the National Congress into special session, or propose an extension of the ordinary session.
To restrict or suspend the exercise of rights of the Council of Ministers, subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
To address the National Congress at any time, and to adjourn each ordinary legislative session.
To participate in the introduction of legislation to Congress by the cabinet secretaries.
To provide implement the resolutions of the legislature, judiciary, and National Electoral Court.
To issue decrees, regulations, and resolutions pursuant to law.
To direct foreign policy.
To conclude treaties and conventions, to be ratified by Congress.
To appoint the heads of diplomatic and consular missions.
To receive the heads of state, and diplomatic representatives.
To be Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, with the field rank of Major General.
To declare war and peace in the event of Congressional recess (although the National Congress must be called immediately into session on such occasion).
To ensure the good official conduct of public officials and employees.
To manage the Treasury.
To dictate extraordinary measures on economic and financial matters when required by the national interest, (which must be reported to the National Congress).
To negotiate international loans, seeking the approval of Congress as required.
To formulate the National Development Plan, discussed in the cabinet and approved of Congress, and to then direct and implement that plan.
To regulate tariffs in accordance with law.
To pardon and commute criminal sentences.
To confer military and civilian decorations.
To collect the public revenue and regulate the investments thereof.
To publish the quarterly Statement of Income and Expenditure of the Public Revenue.
To organize, direct, guide and promote public education.
To maintain and regulate health care of the people of Honduras.
To conduct economic and financial policy.
To exercise supervision and control of banking institutions, insurance, and finance through the National Banking and Insurance, and appoint the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the Banks of the State.
To dictate and promote the swift implementation of agrarian production and reform.
To sanction, veto, publish and promulgate laws passed by Congress.
To direct and support the policy of economic and social integration, both nationally and internationally, aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of Honduras.
To create, maintain, and eliminate public services.
To conferring military ranks from lieutenant to captain, inclusive.
To ensure that the Army is apolitical, professional, and obedient.
To grant or deny letters of naturalization.
To grant pensions, gratuities and bonuses.
To grant legal personality to civil associations.
To ensure harmony between capital and labor.
To set the minimum wage.
To allow or deny, with the authorization of Congress, troops of another country passage through Honduran territory.
To allow, with the authorization of Congress, the output of Honduran troops to serve in foreign territory.
The other functions conferred by the Constitution and legislation.
See: List of Presidents of Honduras
