Page "Presidency" Paragraph 15

The office of the president of Ireland is outlined in Ireland ’ s constitution.

The president of Ireland is elected by direct popular vote.

Suffrage is universal for anyone eighteen and older and is determined that anyone who is eligible to vote for members of Dáil Éireann ( congress ), is eligible to vote for the president.

The vote is conducted by secret ballot.

Every citizen who is thirty-five or older is eligible to be nominated for the presidency ; and must be nominated by either twenty or more representatives from Houses of the Oireachtas ( similar to America ’ s House of Representatives ) or four administrative counties.

The term of office is for seven years and no president may serve more than two terms.

The president must reside in or near Dublin.

The President of Ireland represents all the people of Ireland in his or her engagements home or abroad.

The President does not have executive power, and only enacts his or her powers under the discretion of the rest of the government.

However some instances when the President has ultimate discretion, an example would be that the President can refer a bill to the Supreme Court, to rule on its constitutionality.

Another duty the president has is to appoint the Prime Minister, as nominated by the Dáil Éireann.

The President can then appoint other ministers to the government by the nomination of the Prime Minister.

The President is the commander of Ireland ’ s defensive forces.

The president of Ireland in 2012 is Michael Higgins, who was elected in October 2011.