The objective of this paper is to examine the place of customary and religious laws and practices in the ethiopian constitutions. The federation between eritrea and ethiopia had only a ten year lease of life. 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. Emperor haile selassie proclaimed a revised constitution in 1955. Early on in hailie selassies pictured seated time as ruler of ethiopia, he introduced the countrys first constitution, which allowed for a bicameral, or twohouse, ruling body on this day. On the first election held under the revised constitution see ethiopia observer, vol.
Chapter two fundamental principles of the constitution article 8 sovereignty of the people. Chapter 1 the context of the federal system in ethiopia 11 part one 1. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Constitution of ethiopia wikisource, the free online library. Berhanena selam printing press of his imperial majesty haile selassie i, 1955. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. This article is within the scope of wikiproject ethiopia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of ethiopia on wikipedia. The 1994 constitution reflected both a backlash against the dergs ethnic violence and ethiopia s multitude of ethnic groups. As a result, the study shows that the 1995 fdre constitution better incorporated the customary and religious laws and. Ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a policy of ethnic democracy.
All sovereign power resides in the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay. In article 3 of the constitution, for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted. The role of ethiopia court to interpret the constitution24. The constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre provides for basic principles to which it is committed. Constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the power and function of the government. The constitution attempted to situate ethiopia in the context of the worldwide movement of socalled progressive states and made no direct reference to africa. 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. The territory of ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of his majesty the emperor. Since,constitutionalism does not mean only having constitution,but it is the practical. The 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. Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet.
Closer observation of the 1955 constitution and the eritrean constitution seems. Constitutional development in ethiopia volume 10 issue 2 bereket habte selassie skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Constitution quite evidently seeks to perpetuate an alliance which has proven invaluable in the past. All ethiopian languages shall enjoy equal state recognition. Such opinion was particularly important at a time when some neighboring african states were rapidly advancing under european colonial tutelage and ethiopia was pressing its claims internationally for the incorporation of eritrea, where an. Proclamation promulgating the revised constitution of the empire of ethiopia conquering lion of the tribe of judah haile sellassie i elect of god, emperor of ethiopia whereas, twentyfour years ago, at the beginning of our reign, we. Fundamental principles of the constitution ethiopia. This act may be called the constitution fifth amendment act, 1955.
Article 2 territory of ethiopia the territory of ethiopia shall, as determined by international agreements, comprise of the borders of the member states of the federation. Emperor haile selassie proclaimed a revised constitution in november 1955 of the empire of ethiopia. The existence of constitution is paramount important for the development of democracy in a specific country. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. Constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in ethiopia article pdf available february 2015 with 44,660 reads how we measure reads. Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representatives elected in. Ethiopia adopted a constitution that creates a twotiered federal structure, which, at least in principle, emphasized ethnic groups rights and the right to selfdetermination. As federalism aims to accommodate diversity, ethiopia, as a multiethnic. This constitution establishes a federal and democratic state structure. Ethiopia article about ethiopia by the free dictionary. If the three functions merge in to one organ, every thing will.
Administrative change and the 1955 constitution ethiopia table of contents in pursuit of reform, haile selassie faced the recalcitrance of the provincial nobility, other great landholders, and church officialsall of whom intended to maintain their power and privileges. Apr 18, 2011 provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. Administrative change and the 1955 constitution allrefer. The the pattern followed for state formation is gene rally ethnolinguistic a rticles 46 and 48. Fundamental principles of the constitution article 8. Be it enacted by parliament in the sixth year of the republic of india as follow.
Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representatives elected in accordance with this constitution and through their direct democratic participation. Kthe rule of law krespect for individual and peoples fundamental freedoms and rights kequalitynondiscrimination kcitizens participation in the political, social, and economic life of. Ethiopian constitutions archives ethiopian legal brief. All the natives of ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian empire.
To this end, the study made comparison as to the place of those elements in the four constitutions, thereby implying the changes and continuities. This constitution was prompted, like its 1931 predecessor, by a concern with international opinion. The peoples democratic republic of elhiopia is a soverei, state whose territory comprisin, the land. Fundamental principles of the constitution fundamental principles of the constitution. Haile selassie introduced constitution on this day in 1931. The constitution consists of 106 articles in 11 chapters.
The constitution fifth amendment act, 1955 national. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in africa and one of the oldest. The 1955 constitution was prompted, like its 1931 predecessor, by a concern with international opinion. Such opinion was particularly important at a time when some neighboring african states were rapidly advancing under european colonial tutelage and ethiopia was pressing its claims internationally for the incorporation of eritrea.
As federalism aims to accommodate diversity, ethiopia, as a. The eplf flatly rejected elfs and sabbys appeal for merger on the pretext that no. The current constitution of ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, came into force on 21 august 1995. 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. C it is the emperors right to administer all of the inalienable properties of. Such opinion was particularly important at a time when some neighboring african states were rapidly advancing under european colonial tutelage. The 1931 constitution of ethiopia was the first modern constitution for ethiopia, intended to. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia preamble we the nations, nationalities and people of ethiopia. Except for this merger and the decision that region 14, addis ababa, would become.
How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive. Ethiopia administrative change and the 1955 constitution. In 1962 the legislative assembly of eritrea, under pressure from the imperial government of ethiopia, adopted a resolution providing for the abolition of federative status and eritreas. Constitutional development in ethiopia volume 10 issue 2 bereket habte selassie. In pursuit of reform, haile selassie faced the recalcitrance of the provincial nobility, other great landholders, and church officialsall of whom intended to maintain their power and privileges. Just over one year later, with the federal constitution systematically and gradually dismantled, the long feared annexation of eritrea by ethiopia took place on 14 november 1962. About the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. The constitution fourth amendment act, 1955 national. Tplf and the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf merged to. The following english translation of the ethiopian draft constitution is an unofficial. Federalism and the accommodation of diversity in ethiopia.
Mid this article has been rated as midimportance on. 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. 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. Ethiopian constitution the africa center university of pennsylvania. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 1 chapter i the ethiopian empire and the succession to the throne art. Accordingly, the ethiopian state shall be called the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. This constitution was prompted, like its 1931 predecessor. Introduced to ethiopia in the 7th century had the protection of the christian axumite ruler and its members were free to worship openly nawadays estimated to 33. In november 1955, ethiopias new constitution went into effect. The other important feature of ethiopian federalism is the prominent role given to the principle of multiculturalism. Both the 1931 and the 1955 constitutions of the king were almost cynical in their realism.
The revised constitution of the afar national regional. The current ethiopian constitution declared that the state of ethiopia is structured in federal system based on cultural and language proximity ethnic based. 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. Constitutionnet is a project created to support legislators, constitutional lawyers and other constitutional practitioners in finding useful and relevant information, sharing knowledge and building a. 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. Constitutional development in ethiopia journal of african. The federal democratic republic shall be comprised of states. Although no reference is made to eritrea in the 1955 charter, the document leaves no doubt that its provisions are applicable to that territory as well. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. 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. The place of customary and religious laws and practices in. Pdf on jan 1, 2002, x assefa fiseha and others published a new. Ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a. Be it enacted by parliament in the sixth year of the republic of india as follows.
Law and religion in ethiopia the evolution of a complex. However, eritrea, which was federated with ethiopia in september, 1952, as an autonomous. Despite this the mere existence of constitution cannot be a guarantee for constitutionalism. Dec 14, 2012 constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the power and function of the government. The constitution of the federal democratic republic of. Ethnicity serves as the foundation for ethiopias political parties and is what motivates the constitutions twotiered federal system. How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive the. Introduced to ethiopia in the 7th century had the protection of the christian axumite ruler and its members were free. 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.
Ethiopias constitutional transformation resulted from the collapse of the socialist. Provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. Its history, implications and limitations in africa in. Title constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia publisher national legislative bodies country ethiopia publication date 21 august 1995 reference eth010 cite as constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia ethiopia, 21 august 1995. The federal democratic republic of ethiopia shall have a parliamentarian form of government. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty. This act may be called the constitution forth amendment act, 1955. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia is a unitary,tate in which all nalionalilies ii. How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive the ethiopians by getachew haile this short article addresses the issue of how ethiopia s social and political problems are sometimes. The constitution fourth amendment act, 1955 27th april, 1955. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia home basic information general.