The law determines that these decrees shall in due course be presented to the chambers at their first subsequent meeting, and that they shall be abrogated for the future if the chambers do not approve of them. Fundamental principles of the constitution ethiopia. It shall be ruled in common by a constitution and governed by an emperor. The draftsman of, and brain behind, the constitution was a distinguished ethiopian educated in russia and france before world 1 margery perham, op. The long speech he delivered on the occasion of the grant. This constitution establishes a federal and democratic state structure. The peoples democratic republic of elhiopia is a soverei, state whose territory comprisin, the land. The axumite civilization which heralds the beginning of. Posts about 1995 constitution of ethiopia written by jontambek. Posted in ethiopia tagged african banjul charter on human and peoples rights, alemayehu g mariam, andualem aragie, andualem aragie beaten, bekele gerba, birtukan midekssa political prisoner, convention against torture and other cruel, ethiopia constitution, ethiopia dewar report prison, ethiopia human rights report, ethiopia human rights. However, these pledges were not translated into practice. Accordingly, the ethiopian state shall be known as the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Chapter two fundamental principles of the constitution article 8 sovereignty of the people.
The current ethiopian constitution declared that the state of ethiopia is structured in federal system based on cultural and language proximity ethnic based. Particulars relating to nationality shall be determined by law. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty. The 1931 constitution of ethiopia was the first modern constitution for ethiopia, intended to officially replace the fetha nagast, which had been the supreme law since the middle ages. About the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. This revision of the 1931 constitution implied a change in the organisation of the system of governance, limiting the power of the emperor to a certain extent and a relatively better recognition of rights and freedoms. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 2 order and avert public dangers. Its impact upon unity, human rights and development, 20 suffolk transnatl l. Every ethiopian has the right to choose his or her means of livelihood, occupation and profession. Ethiopian constitution pdf amharic version free download as pdf file. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 ethiopian legal brief. Kthe rule of law krespect for individual and peoples fundamental freedoms and rights kequalitynondiscrimination kcitizens participation in the political, social, and economic life of. 1 december 2016 with 1,339 reads how we measure reads.
Nationalism, selfdetermination, article 39, the eyes of. Thus, the eprdf that assumed power in may 1991 after its protracted 17 year armed insurgency undertaken the reconstruction of the ethiopian state. Its history, implications and limitations in africa in. The constitution attempted to situate ethiopia in the context of the worldwide movement of socalled progressive states and made no direct reference to africa. To grant a constitution to all the ethiopian people. But see minasse haile, the new ethiopian constitution. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. And by that, it has become one of the contentious article. Ethiopian constitution of 1955 6 b from the date of the proclamation of the present constitution, all realty registered in the name of the crown bete mengist are held in trust for the crown under the guardianship of the emperor and are inalienable. Ethiopia has a history of over three thousand years and is mentioned in the old testament. Some unique features of the new constitution of ethiopia.
Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. Download pdf interim constitution ethiopia 1991 1995 download pdf transitional period charter of ethiopia 19911995 retrieved from. C it is the emperors right to administer all of the inalienable properties of. Fundamental principles of the constitution fundamental principles of the constitution. Provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. The current constitution of ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, came into force on 21 august 1995. The contract, in essence, was an attempt to define areas of mutual interest. All sovereign power resides in the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. Every ethiopian national has the right to equal access to publicly funded social services. The current ethiopian constitution comprises of general articles fundamental principles of the constitution fundamenta. It has created anxiety and disillusionment in the ethiopian people. From 71 to 74 he served as school director and history teacher in aira, in western wallaga. Ever since 1991, ethiopia has departed from the old unitary form of state and has been implementing language based federalism. Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet.
The 1931 constitution, which was ethiopias first written constitution in its three thousand year history, had been introduced by haile selassie as a contract between himself and the ethiopian people. Ethiopian constitution pdf amharic version ethiopia. Finally, article 39 of the 1994 ethiopian constitution was politically motivated and not meant to be practiced. We, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. Given in our imperial capital, on this the 24th day of tekemt, 1948 ethiopian calandar, and on the twentyfifth anniversary of our coronation. According to articles 1 and 47 of the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, the country is a federation of nine ethnolinguistically divided regional states. Ethiopian territorial jurisdiction the territorial jurisdiction of ethiopia shall comprise the territory of the members of. All members of the ethiopian army owe absolute loyalty and obedience to the emperor, in conformity with the provisions of the law. Article 105 amendment of the constitution article 106 the version with final legal authority for methodology see. The constitution consists of 106 articles in 11 chapters. The federal democratic republic shall be comprised of states.
How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive. 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. Now it is worthy that the ethiopian parliament, democratically nominated and elected by the people, deliberate on the relevance of article 39 in the ethiopian society. Ethiopia adopted a constitution that creates a two. He left for germany in october 1974 and lived there until july 1991. The origin and character of ethiopian central institutions can be understood by reference to at least four main factors. It is a nation extensively endowed with plenty of historical, social, cultural, ecological, natural, religious etc resources and diversities. Ethiopia shall remain united like the members of one family, without divisions. 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. The federal democratic republic of ethiopia shall have a parliamentarian form of government. The principle of mutual exclusion of state and religion in. Comparing constitutions and international constitutional law. The ethnopolitics of ethnofederalism in ethiopia article pdf available in ethnopolitics 163. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 3 may be appointed o cers in the army or civil o cials, or to any other posts or o ces in the service of the state.
The constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre provides for basic principles to which it is committed. The freedom to public manifestation of faith in worship, observance, practice and teaching has been guaranteed under the 1995 federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre constitution art 27. Article 7 gender reference provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. Critics claim that the constitution was no more than an abridged version of the 1977 soviet constitution, with the exception that strong powers were assigned to the newly created. Interim constitution ethiopia 19911995 constitutionnet. Negaso gidada studied history at the haile sellasie 1st university now the addis abeba university from 1966 to 1971. History and ideology 57 selfadministration through regional autonomy. Ethiopian orthodox church was the established church of the empire and was, as such, supported by the state. It was promulgated in an impressive ceremony held 16 july 1931 in the presence of emperor haile selassie, who had long desired to proclaim one for his country. Micheau introduction emergent and reemergent nationalism seem to have taken center stage in. Constitution of ethiopia wikisource, the free online library. 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. Article 2 ethiopian territorial jurisdiction the territorial jurisdiction of ethiopia shall comprise the territory of the members of the federation and its boundaries shall be as determined by international agreements. Every ethiopian has the right to engage freely in economic activity and to pursue a livelihood of his choice anywhere within the national territory.
How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive the ethiopians by getachew haile this short article addresses the issue of how ethiopias social and political problems are sometimes. It was adopted by the transitional government of ethiopia in december 1994 and came into force following the general election held in. The constitution of the united states preamble we the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do. Foreign nationals may acquire ethiopian nationality. The imperial constitutions of the empire of ethiopia. The main provisions of this constitution which we grant to the ethiopian people are the following. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. The revised constitution of the afar national regional. 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. State constitutions in federal ethiopia article pdf. The ethiopian free press journalists association efja has demanded that china put an end to its complicity in jamming the ethiopian satellite television esat and other reputable broadcasters such as the voice of america and deutsche welle amharic services.
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