(a) Highlight four features of the 1979 Republic Constitution. (b) State two ways by which the President could be removed from office according to the Const...

Answer Details

(a) Four features of the 1979 Republican Constitution

1. Presidential system of government: it introduced an executive president who was both Head of State and Head of Government, replacing the parliamentary system of the First Republic.
2. Federalism: it retained a federal structure with a division of powers between the federal government and the states through exclusive, concurrent and residual lists.
3. Separation of powers with checks and balances: the executive, legislature and judiciary were made separate arms, each checking the others to prevent abuse of power.
4. Fundamental human rights: it entrenched the fundamental rights of citizens, which were justiciable and enforceable in the courts.

Other features included a bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives), an independent judiciary, and the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

(b) Two ways the President could be removed from office

1. Impeachment by the National Assembly: the President could be removed for gross misconduct through the impeachment process, requiring an investigation and a two-thirds (indeed a very high) majority vote of both houses of the National Assembly.
2. Permanent incapacity or medical incapability: the President could be removed if declared, through the prescribed medical procedure, to be permanently unable to discharge the functions of the office by reason of physical or mental infirmity.