President of Israel

President of the State of Israel is the head of state of Israel, but has a largely ceremonial, figurehead role with real power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister of Israel.

Election

The President is elected by an absolute majority by the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). As of the third round of voting, if no candidate receives an absolute majority, a simple majority is enough. A president's full term is seven years. A president cannot be re-elected to a second term. Until recently, the president was elected for a five-year term, and was allowed to serve up to two terms in office.

Related Topics:
President - Absolute majority - Knesset - Simple majority

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Israeli presidents may not serve more than two consecutive terms, and any Israeli citizen who is a resident of the State is eligible to be a presidential candidate. The office falls vacant upon resignation or upon the decision of three-quarters of the Knesset to impeach the president on grounds of misconduct or incapacity. Presidential tenure is not keyed to that of the Knesset in order to assure continuity in government and the nonpartisan character of the office. There is no vice president in the Israeli governmental system. When the president is temporarily incapacitated or the office falls vacant, the speaker of the Knesset may become acting president.

Related Topics:
Impeach - Vice president - Speaker - Acting

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For more information see Basic Law: The President of the State.

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