ARTICLE 77.—­The President signs all appointments of officials, gives them their instructions himself, or has it read and explained to them by qualified officials, administers the oath, makes them sign it, and after their appointment puts into their hands a copy of instructions.

ARTICLE 78.—­The President is charged with the administration of the public service, the Postal Department and Public Works; he and the members of the Executive Council are at the same time charged with the supervision of the powder magazines and cannon of the State.

ARTICLE 79.—­Correspondence with foreign powers shall be carried on by the President and the Executive Council.  The dispatches shall be signed by him and the Secretary of State.

ARTICLE 80.—­The President with the Executive Council has the right to diminish or remit sentences of punishment passed for misdemeanours or crime, on recommendation of the Court that has passed the sentence, or upon petition of the person condemned, after having taken the advice of the Court thereupon.

ARTICLE 81.—­Before accepting his office he shall take the following oath before the Volksraad:—­

“As elected President of the Republic, I promise and swear solemnly, that I shall be faithful to the people; and that I shall act according to right and law in my office, according to the best of my knowledge and conscience without respect of persons; that I have done no one favour, nor made presents to reach this office; that I shall not accept from anyone any present or favour, if I can suppose that this present or favour should be made or done with a view of gaining from me a resolution in favour of the person who does the favour or makes the gifts; that I shall act according to the Constitution of the Republic, and intend alone the furthering of the happiness and welfare at large of its inhabitants.”

ARTICLE 82.—­The President exercises his power along with the Executive Council.  An Executive Council shall be joined to the President, consisting of the Commandant-General, two enfranchised burghers, a Secretary, and a Notekeeper (notulenhouder), who shall have an equal vote, and bear the title of members of the Executive Council.  The Superintendent of Native Affairs and the Notekeeper shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Council.  The President and members of the Executive Council shall have the right to sit, but not to vote, in the Volksraad.  The President is allowed, when important affairs arise, to invite the head official to be present in the Executive Council whose department is more directly concerned with the subject to be treated of.  The said head official shall then have a vote in the Executive Council, be equally responsible for the resolution taken, and sign it along with the others.

ARTICLE 83.—­According to the intention of Article 82 the following shall be considered “Head Officials”:  The State Attorney, Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of Education, Orphan-Master, Registrar of Deeds, Surveyor-General, Postmaster-General, Head of the Mining Department, Chief Director of the Telegraph Service, and Chief of Public Works.