Article 54  Election
(1) The President is elected, without debate, by the Federal Convention. Every German who is entitled to vote in House of Representatives elections and has attained the age of forty years is eligible for election.
(2) The term of office of the President is five years. Reelection for a consecutive term is permitted only once.
(3) The Federal Convention consists of the members of the House of Representatives [Bundestag] and an equal number of members elected by the parliaments of the States  according to the principles of proportional representation.
(4) The Federal Convention meets no later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the President or, in the case of premature termination, not later than thirty days after that date. It is convened by the President of the House of Representatives.
(5) After the expiration of a legislative term, the period specified in Paragraph IV 1 begins with the first meeting of the House of Representatives .
(6) The person receiving the votes of the majority of the members of the Federal Convention is elected. Where such majority is not obtained by any candidate in two ballots, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes in the next ballot is elected.
(7) Details are regulated by a federal statute.
 
Article 55  Incompatibilities
(1) The President may not be a member of the government nor of a legislative body of the Federation or of a State .
(2) The President may not hold any other salaried office, nor engage in an occupation, nor belong to the management or the board of directors of an enterprise carried on for profit.
 
Article 56  Oath of Office
On assuming his office, the President takes the following oath before the assembled members of the House of Representatives and the Senate :
"I swear that I will dedicate my efforts to the wellbeing of the German people, enhance their benefits, avert hamm from them, uphold and defend the Constitution and the statutes of the Federation, fulfil my duties conscientiously, and do justice to all. So help me God."
The oath may also be taken without religious affirmation.
 
Article 57  Representation
Where the President is prevented from acting, or where his office falls prematurely vacant, his powers are exercised by the President of the Senate .
 
Article 58  Countersignature
Orders and directions of the President require, for their validity, the countersignature of the Chancellor or the appropriate Minister. This does not apply to the appointment and dismissal of the Chancellor, the dissolution of the House of Representatives under Article 63 and a request made under Article 69 III.
 
Article 59  Representation in International Relations
(1) The President represents the Federation in its international relations. He concludes treaties with foreign countries on behalf of the Federation. He accredits and receive envoys.
(2) Treaties which regulate the political relations of the Federation or relate to matters of federal legislation requires the consent or participation, in the form of a federal statute, of the bodies competent in any specific case for such federal legislation. As regards administrative agreements, the provisions concerning the federal administration are applicable.
 
Article 59 A repealed
 
Article 60  Appointments, Pardon
(1) The President appoints and dismisses the federal judges, the federal civil servants, the officers and noncommissioned officers, except as may otherwise be provided for by statute.
(2) He exercises the right of pardon in individual cases on behalf of the Federation.
(3) He may delegate these powers to other authorities.
(4) Article 46 II to IV also apply to the President.
 
Article 61  Impeachment
(1) The House of Representatives or the Senate  may impeach the President before the Federal Constitutional Court for wilful violation of this Constitution or any other federal statute. The motion of impeachment is filed by at least one quarter of the members of the House of Representatives or one quarter of the votes of the Senate  A decision to impeach requires a majority of two thirds of the members of the House of Representatives or of two thirds of the votes of the Senate . The impeachment is pleaded by a person commissioned by the impeaching body.
(2) Where the Federal Constitutional Court finds the President guilty of a wilful violation of this Constitution or of another federal statute, it may declare him to have forfeited his office. After impeachment, it may issue an interim order preventing the President from exercising his functions.