The constitution consists of 106 articles in 11 chapters. And by that, it has become one of the contentious article. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia home basic information general information the house of peoples representatives the house of the federation current developments preamble we, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. The territory of ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of his majesty the emperor. The revised constitution of the afar national regional. Federalism and the adjudication of constitutional issues. A proposed revision of the 1955 constitution was released in 1974, but it had no legal effect, and was soon forgotten in the events of the ethiopian revolution until the adoption of the first of these constitutions, the concepts of. Status of international instruments under ethiopian constitutional.
Nationalism, selfdetermination, article 39, the eyes of. In reality, however, the office of the president in particular and the executive branch in general were the most powerful branches of. The decision cant contradict the constitution, in this case article 2 and article 47, as the constitution is supreme. For a textual discussion solely devoted to the ethiopian constitution, see fasil. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay. The following english translation of the ethiopian draft constitution is an unofficial. Its also obvious that a member states decision to secede from the federation entails a constitutional amendment.
Aticn in ethiopia 1 9 3 5 to 1 97 4 the purpose of 1931 constitution remained unserved due to italian invasion. The 1931, 1987 and 1995 constitutions of ethiopia delelegn, wubalem on. The constitution officially took effect on february 22, 1987, when the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia was proclaimed, although it was not until september that the new government was fully in place and the pmac formally abolished. Time for ethiopia to bargain with sidama over statehood. Negaso gidada studied history at the haile sellasie 1st university now the addis abeba university from 1966 to 1971. N t e i t8 decree proclaiming the constitution address of emperor haile selassie text of the constitution an analysis of the constitution page 1 3 8 18 decree we, liaile selassie i, emperor of ethiopia, having been called, by the grace of god and the unanimous voice of the ethiopian people, to receive under unction the crown and throne of. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. The law of constitution supreme and it is not affected by decision of any person or public official.
Its history, implications and limitations in africa in. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 5 if after a question has been declared to be secret, a member of the chamber makes it known to the public either in a speech, or by the press, or by writings or in any other way, he shall be punished according to the provisions of penal law. The 1987 constitution of the republic of the philippines preamble we, the sovereign filipino people, imploring the aid of almighty god, in order to build a just and humane society, and establish a government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations. On the constitutions page, why did you forget the constitution of the peoples democratic republic of ethiopian of around 1987 not sure of the date, but i mean mengistu hailemariams constitution. All the natives of ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian empire. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to building a political community founded on the rule of law and capable of ensuring a lasting peace, guaranteeing a democratic order, and advancing our economic and social development. Under the constitution, the federal arrangement guaranteed the rights of the federal states to determine their own affairs. The precarious future of the ethiopian constitution. The constitution officially took effect on february 22, 1987, when the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia was proclaimed, although it was not until september that the new government was fully in place and the pmac formally abolished see the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia, ch. A second difference between the ethiopian and soviet constitutions is that the former.
This constitution establishes a federal and democratic state structure. Alan tarr 2 every federal system is structured by a federal constitution that divides power, establishes central institutions, prescribes the rules for resolving disputes, safeguards rights, and provides a procedure for its own alteration. Pdf since 1995, ethiopia has embarked upon a new federal system. Regulation of merger under the ethiopian competition law. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 ethiopian legal brief. Aug 02, 20 4 what are ethiopias merger regulations major strengths and weaknesses. Expiration of ethiopian parliaments term during health crisis poses. Any law, customary practice or a decision of an organ of state or a public official which contravenes this constitution shall be of no effect. The second part of this paper deals with constitutionalism. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to. Ethnicity serves as the foundation for ethiopias political parties and is what motivates the constitutions twotiered federal system. Constitution not falling under human and democratic rights chapters will be treated to the extent they are found relevant to the subject under consideration.
Have therefore adopted, on 8 december 1994 this constitution through representatives we have duly elected for this purpose as an instrument that binds us in a mutual commitment to fulfil the objectives and the principles set forth above. Obote then imposed the adoption of the new constitution and declared himself president without elections. The peoples democratic republic of elhiopia is a soverei, state whose territory comprisin, the land. For centuries, customary and religious laws served as the constitution of the ancient monarchy. The sovereignty can be determined by selecting representative as per constitutional laws and by. The ethiopian constitution of 1987 183 basic freedoms and rights are guaranteed and duties respected, a solid foundation for the construction of socialism is laid, and we are enabled to make our due contribution to world peace, justice, democracy and social progress. Ethiopian constitutions and their explanatory note. All citizens, associations, political organizations and officials are obliged to follow and obey the constitution. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The 1987 constitution of ethiopia was the third constitution of ethiopia, and went into effect on 22 february 1987 after a referendum on 1 february of that year. Full text of the ethiopian constitution internet archive.
While hierarchical and organic polities can merge because they are on the same. The nation is multicultural, based originally on its indigenous peoples, described as descendants of those inhabiting the country before colonization and that preserve their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, or some of them. From 71 to 74 he served as school director and history teacher in aira, in western wallaga. The period 1434 1974 the period before 1434 the era of modern codified laws 19311974 written imperial constitutions the civil code of 1960 and other laws ii. Ethiopian constitution the following english translation of the ethiopian draft constitution is an unofficial draft that has been released to enable members of the international community follow the discussions and forthcoming elections, pending publication of the official translation. From aristotle to the present day, many such definitions have been offered, and some of these will be discussed below in connection with the history of. He left for germany in october 1974 and lived there until july 1991. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 1 chapter i the ethiopian empire and the succession to the throne art. Coronavirus counter with new cases, historical data, and info. Here you can read the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the. Human rights despite much rhetoric on the part of the mengistu government to the contrary and an entire chapter of the 1987 constitution devoted to basic freedoms and rights, ethiopia under mengistu had one of the worst human rights records in the world.
The tigrayanled eprdf rebels who came to power in 1991 vowed to devolve power to regions. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. Arliclt 57 every ethiopian has the duly to obse, the constitution and laws of the people. Theoretically, the council of state ruled along with the president and exercised legislative oversight in relation to other branches of government. Ethiopias ancient system of feudal government experienced significant changes under haile selassie i reigned 193074, who carefully grafted onto the traditional governing institutions a weak parliament of appointed and elected legislators, a judiciary with modernized civil and criminal codes and a hierarchy of courts, and an executive. Students of law of constitution are to some degree concerned with all or some of these factors, which are essential factors of statehood and subjects of concern of political science. We, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. Articles aiga forum, an ethiopian forum for news and. National anthem of ethiopia the national anthem of ethiopia, to be determined by law, shall reflect the ideals of the constitution, the commitment of the peoples of ethiopia to live together in a democratic order and of their common destiny. Its adoption inaugurated the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia pdre. Constitutional development in ethiopia volume 10 issue 2 bereket habte selassie. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia preamble we, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia.
Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Pdf the making and legitimacy of the ethiopian constitution. This training material is meant as a resource for trainers interested in providing civic education on the articles of the fdre constitution focusing on human and democratic rights, state and. A constitutional referendum was held in ethiopia on 1 february 1987. The new constitution would make the country a oneparty state with the workers party of ethiopia as the sole legal party. Topics derg, mengistu collection opensource language english. Law and religion in ethiopia the evolution of a complex. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to building a political community founded on the rule of law and capable of ensuring. Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet.
Download pdf interim constitution ethiopia 1991 1995 download pdf transitional period charter of ethiopia 19911995 retrieved from. Ethiopian constitution the africa center university of pennsylvania. The primary task facing the wpe following its formation in 1984 was to devise the new national constitution that would inaugurate the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia pdre. The revised constitution of the afar national regional state. The emperor will establish in the form of a law the standing orders. The exerci of frodioms and ri,hls and the discharge of duties by citizen. Pdf on jan 1, 2002, x assefa fiseha and others published a new. The constitution provides sovereign power to all nationals and people of ethiopia. The current constitution of ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, came into force on 21 august 1995. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia wipo. Constitution i and ii, which i believe would be of vital value to ethiopian. Interim constitution ethiopia 19911995 constitutionnet. Particulars relating to nationality shall be determined by law.
Pdf federalism and the adjudication of constitutional issues. Democratic republic of ethiopia, and to uphold the honor and di, nity of ethiopian citiun. It abolished the position of the prime minister, placing all. Interim constitution ethiopia 1991 1995 download pdf transitional period charter of ethiopia 19911995 retrieved from. Foreign nationals may acquire ethiopian nationality. The imperial constitutions of the empire of ethiopia. Revised constitution of ethiopia as promulgated by his imperial majesty his majesty hail e sellassi e i on twentyfourth tekemt one thousand nine hindred and forty eight 4th november, 1955 on the occasion of the twentyfifth anniversary of his coronation negarit gazeta 15th year no. About the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Modern constitutional history ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a policy of ethnic democracy. The making and legitimacy of the ethiopian constitution.
Elazar, exploring federalism tuscaloosa, university of alabama press 1987. Coronavirus live update live statistics and coronavirus news tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, and death toll by country due to the covid 19 coronavirus from wuhan, china. Regulation of merger under the ethiopian competition law by. The 1987 constitution of ethiopia was the third constitution of ethiopia, and went into effect on. Constitutional development in ethiopia journal of african. Except for this merger and the decision that region 14, addis ababa, would become. Constitutionalism in its distinctive sense is a modern phenomenon which can be defined only by facing the complexities of defining a constitution.