Chapter III

Article 86.
The President of the Nation has the following attributes:--

1. He is the supreme chief of the Nation, and is charged with
the general administration of the country.

2. He issues such instructions and regulations as may be
necessary for the execution of the laws of the Nation, taking
care not to alter their spirit with regulative exceptions.

3. He is the immediate and local chief of the National
capital.

4. He participates in making the laws according to the
Constitution; and sanctions and promulgates them.

5. He nominates the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the
Inferior Federal tribunals, and appoints them by and with the
consent and advice of the Senate.

6. He has power to pardon or commute penalties against
officers subject to Federal jurisdiction, preceded by a report
of the proper Tribunal, excepting in case of impeachment by
the House of Deputies.

7. He grants retiring-pensions, leaves of absence and
pawnbrokers' licences, in conformity to the laws of the
Nation.

8. He exercises the rights of National Patronage in the
presentation of Bishops for the cathedrals, choosing from a
ternary nomination of the Senate.

9. He grants letters-patent or retains the decrees of the
Councils, the bulls, briefs and rescripts of the Holy Roman
Pontiff, by and with the consent of the Supreme Court, and
must require a law for the same when they contain general and
permanent dispositions.

10. He appoints and removes Ministers Plenipotentiary and
Chargé d'Affaires, by and with the consent and advice of the
Senate; and himself alone appoints and removes the Ministers
of his Cabinet, the officers of the Secretary-ships, Consular
Agents, and the rest of the employés of the Administration
whose nomination is not otherwise ordained by this
Constitution.

11. He annually opens the Sessions of Congress, both Houses
being united for this purpose in the Senate Chamber, giving an
account to Congress on this occasion of the state of the
Nation, of the reforms provided by the Constitution, and
recommending to its consideration such measures as may be
judged necessary and convenient.

12. He prolongs the ordinary meetings of Congress or convokes
it in extra session, when a question of progress or an
important interest so requires.

13. He collects the rents of the Nation and decrees their
expenditure in conformity to the law or estimates of the
Public expenses.

14. He negotiates and signs those treaties of peace, of
commerce, of navigation, of alliance, of boundaries and of
neutrality, requisite to maintain good relations with foreign
powers; he receives their Ministers and admits their Consuls.

15. He is commander in chief of all the sea and land forces of
the Nation.

16. He confers, by and with the consent of the Senate, the
high military grades in the army and navy of the Nation; and
by himself on the field of battle.

17. He disposes of the land and sea forces, and takes charge
of their organization and distribution according to the
requirements of the Nation.

18. By the authority and approval of Congress, he declares war
and grants letters of marque and reprisal.

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19. By and with the consent of the Senate, in case of foreign
aggression and for a limited time, he declares martial law in
one or more points of the Nation. In case of internal
commotion he has this power only when Congress is in recess,
because it is an attribute which belongs to this body. The
President exercises it under the limitations mentioned in
Article 23.

20. He may require from the chiefs of all the branches and
departments of the Administration, and through them from all
other employés, such reports as he may believe necessary, and
they are compelled to give them.

21. He cannot absent himself from the capital of the Nation
without permission of Congress. During the recess he can only
do so without permission on account of important objects of
public service.

22. The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that
may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting
commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next
session.