Page:The Bonn Constitution (Basic Law FRG 1949).pdf/27

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with foreign states on behalf of the Federation. He shall accredit and receive the envoys.

(2) Treaties which regulate the political relations of the Federation or refer to matters of federal legislation shall require, in the form of a federal law,the approval or the participation of the corporations competent the time for federal legislation. For administrative agreements the provisions concerning the federal administration shall apply appropriately.

Article 60

(1) The Federal President shall appoint and dismiss the federal judges and the federal officials unless otherwise determined by law.

(2) He shall exercise the right of pardon on behalf of the Federation in individual cases.

(3) He may delegate these powers to other authorities.

(4) Article 46, paragraphs (2) to (4), shall apply appropriately to the Federal President.

Article 61

(1) The Bundestag or the Bundesrat may impeach the Federal President before the Federal Constitutional Court on account of wilful violation of the Basic Law or any other federal law. The motion for impeachment must be brought in by at least one-quarter of the members of the Bundestag or one-quarter of the votes of the Bundesrat. The decision to impeach shall require the majority of two-thirds of the members of the Bundestag or of two-thirds of the votes of the Bundesrat. The prosecution shall be conducted by a person commissioned by the impeaching body.

(2) If the Federal Constitutional Court finds that the Federal President is guilty of a wilful violation of the Basic Law or of any other federal law, it may declare him to have forfeited his office. After the institution of impeachment proceedings, the Federal Constitutional Court may, by interim order, determine that the Federal President is prevented from performing the duties of his office.

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