The President of the Republic is, by virtue of his office, the Grand Master of all the Portuguese Honorific Orders, as defined in Article 134 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.
According to the Law of Portuguese Honorific Orders, the granting of any degree of the Portuguese Honorific Orders is the exclusive competence of the President of the Republic. This competence may be exercised on the President's own initiative or on a proposal by the entities to which the law grants such power.
On the occasion of diplomatic meetings, the President of the Republic may award the honour of Grand Collar to foreign Heads of State, and may naturally also award them with the Grand Cross of any of the Orders which do not have a Grand Collar.
The President of the Republic may also grant the honour of Grand Collar to former Heads of State and to persons whose deeds of an extraordinary nature and of particular relevance to Portugal make them worthy of such distinction.
The President of the Republic may also grant the title of honorary member to groups or institutions.
As Grand Master, the President of the Republic oversees the organisation, policy and discipline of Orders, in conjunction with the Chancellors and Councils of the Orders.
