User:Duke of Somewhere/Basic Law: President of Israel

Basic law: President of Israel is a basic law that dewfines the role of The President of Israel. Since this law was enacted it in 1964 was fixed 10 times, the last time in 2014.

Legislative history


The consitutional committee of the Provisional State Council that wrote the first laws of Israel, set the ground rules reguarding the President of Israel, and it made the president a symbolic role.

In 1951 the Presidential term act was enactes. This legislation did not deal with the President's roles, but in their election process and term.

In June 16 1964 the Basic Law: President of Israel was officially enacted by the Knesset. The Minister of Justice of Israel said that it's a step towards a constitution of Israel.

After Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, an amendment that restricts Pardon to terrorists who killed people.

The President's role
The first clause of this basic law anounces that "The head of the state is a President". This clause is mostly symbolic and does not have any practical consequences.

The term
Clause 3 fo the basic law states that a term of the President of Israel is 7 years and they can't be elected for a second term. In the past, the term was 5 years and it was possible to be elected more than once.

Suitability
Clause 4 of the basic law states that there are two terms for the President's suitability: They need to be citizens and residents. When David Ben-Gurion offered Albert Einstein to be the President of Israel in 1952, the basic law wasn't in force yet, so he didn't need to meet these conditions.

The Presidents of Israel website

Basic Law: President of Israel, Knesset website