How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive the. Pdf media, participation and constitutionmaking in. Beyana represented people who believe that ethiopian history, as they read it, neither includes them nor respects their human dignity. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia wipo. 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 fulfill the objectives and the principles set forth above. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 ethiopian legal brief. If thats not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Earlier, egyptian pharaohs traded with the land of punt, probably somewhere along what is now the coast of eritrea or possibly somaliland. 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. The precarious future of the ethiopian constitution. History and ideology 57 selfadministration through regional autonomy. Article 29 reproduced also in the official amharic text below2 states. The impact of the inclusion of secession clause in the. The role of communications in facilitating public participation in constitutionmaking is often neglected and misunderstood, particularly in postwar statebuilding when mass media may be weak.
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 constitution consists of 106 articles in 11 chapters. 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. Interim constitution ethiopia 19911995 constitutionnet. 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. Particulars relating to nationality shall be determined by law. Ethiopian constitution africa center, university of. The difference between 1931 and 1955 ethiopian constitution pdf. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay. This article vehemently claims that carefully designed secession right in constitution can help to effectively prevent secession and. 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.
Ethiopias history as an organized and independent polity dates back to the first millennium bce. All the natives of ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian empire. 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. This is the official text as published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, 1st year no. On this page you can read or download weakness of ethiopian constitution pdf in pdf format. Establishment of the secretariat of the house of peoples representatives and of the house of the federation proclamation. If you dont see any interesting for you, use our search form on bottom v. With respect to the 26 elasticity of the ethiopian constitution, attention is directed to a very significant sentence in the decree pro claiming the constitution.
Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. The ethiopian constitution lays out the legal rights of citizens to hold opinions, thoughts, and free expressions. Ethiopia administrative change and the 1955 constitution. Any person of either sex shall be an ethiopian national where both or either parent is ethiopian. Ethiopia is a magnificent nation and perhaps the worlds most ancient. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of. In may the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf entered the capital. The federal democratic republic of ethiopian constitution is among very few constitutions in the world that included secession right in their constitution. 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 center for constitutional studies promotes research, teaching, and publication on the history and theory of constitutionalism, with special emphasis on the constitution of the united states of america.
Comments this is the official text as published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, 1st year no. The protection of land rights in ethiopia ethiopian. About the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Article 93 of the ethiopian constitution deals with a declaration of a state of. The constitution was adopted on 8 december 1994 and promulgated by the constitution of the federal democratic. The constitution was adopted on 8 december 1994 and promulgated by the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia proclamation no. Accordingly, the ethiopian state shall be known as the federal democratic. A new constitution granting special rights to different ethnic groups in ethiopia was ratified in december, and became effective in august 1995. To this end, the main purpose of this paper is to explain the new democratic constitutional. This paper tries to explain constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in ethiopia. The constitutional history of ethiopia the journal of. Between 1959 and 1961 i worked with an ethiopian research student, getacaw takla maryam, on the constitutional history of ethiopia from the aksumite period first to fourth centuries a.
The bicameral ethiopian parliament played no part in drawing up the 1955 constitution, which, far from limiting the emperors control, emphasized the religious origins of imperial power and extended the centralization process. This sort of reaction happens in front of the new ethiopian constitution too. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in africa and one of the oldest independent countries in the world. The eprdf won 484 out of 547 seats in the assembly. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia ilo. All ethiopian languages shall enjoy equal state recognition.
Foreign nationals may acquire ethiopian nationality. Constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in ethiopia. A historian discussing history with nonhistorians might seem strange, but the endresult shows that it was actually not. The historical legacy of inequality and discrimination suffered by women in. 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.
Constitutional development in ethiopia journal of african. However, these pledges were not translated into practice. The oromo moved north through the southern highlands, bypasssing the sidama on the west, and into the central highlands, where they settled in the center and west on land, some. Article 7 gender reference provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. The territory of ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of his majesty the emperor. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 1 chapter i the ethiopian empire and the succession to the throne art. Constitutionalism and responsible citizenship, by wayne lapierre, sep. Ethiopia s 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 cabinet of ministers headed by a prime minister but answerable to the emperor. Their right is founded solely and exclusively on the sweeping constitutional guarantees they enjoy under articles 29 and of the ethiopian constitution. Infoplease has everything you need to know about ethiopia. Oct 18, 2010 their right is founded solely and exclusively on the sweeping constitutional guarantees they enjoy under articles 29 and of the ethiopian constitution. 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. After a brief historical introduction in part i, this chapter proposes to broadly revisit the principles discussed in the reference to assess their role and impact in the ethiopian constitution.
Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet. Other articles where history of ethiopia is discussed. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia is a unitary,tate in which all nalionalilies ii. During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, emperor menelik ii created the current ethiopian state through expansion and conquest. Download pdf interim constitution ethiopia 1991 1995 download pdf transitional period charter of ethiopia 19911995 retrieved from. Nov 23, 2015 on this page you can read or download 1931 ethiopian constitution document pdf in pdf format. 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. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in. Nov 23, 2015 on this page you can read or download weakness of ethiopian constitution pdf in pdf format. Thus, the eprdf that assumed power in may 1991 after its protracted 17 year armed insurgency undertaken the reconstruction of the ethiopian state. To this end, the main purpose of this paper is to explain the new democratic constitutional process in ethiopia.
Ethiopia s present constitution was created and ratified in 1994 by a constituent assembly. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian empire. The current constitution of ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, came into force on 21 august 1995. 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. On this page you can read or download 1931 ethiopian constitution document pdf in pdf format.
Law and religion in ethiopia the evolution of a complex. Seleshi zeyohannes, constitutional law ii page 2 of 372 acknowledgments my acknowledgment goes to all those who assisted me in preparing this course on law of constitution i and ii, which i believe would be of vital value to ethiopian students and instructors of law. The imperial government assures the union of the territory, of the. The difference between 1931 and 1955 ethiopian constitution pdf, repondre en citant. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about ethiopias geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages.
Provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to. In tigray state, northern ethiopia, where the detailed research on which this paper is based has been centered, and in the literature concerning land rights and our less indepth research in. The legislative branch is made up of a bicameral parliament. Modern constitutional history ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a policy of ethnic democracy. It is our hope that such elaboration shall be carried out in the future as ci rcumstances require, and in the afor e mentioned ob jeetives. Its history is rich and it has affected the religious, political and. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia home basic information general. The language of these two articles is simple, plain, straightforward, unambiguous and requires no interpretation. Ethiopia s ton, history of independence has been the history of ih. Ethnicity serves as the foundation for ethiopias political parties and is what motivates the constitutions twotiered federal system.