I talk about the government system of Ethiopia from executive to legislative and how elections work in a country that was once run by a great African monarchy.

1. Post author By Charlie August 13, 2020
The Government System of Ethiopia
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-ethiopia/
Ethiopia is a landlocked country
found on the African continent in the
East in the Horn of Africa region and
is bordered with six other countries
which are Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan,
South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia.
The country’s capital city Addis
Ababa is located centrally in the
country.
Some of the oldest skeletal remains of
humans have been found in the
country and is widely considered to
have been where modern humans
first emigrated from out to the Middle
East and beyond. Ethiopia’s history is
one of the oldest in Africa and
stretches all the way back to the 2nd
millennium BC and for most of its history was a monarchy. Oral history says that the
monarchy was founded by the Solomonic Dynasty of the Queen of Sheba descended
from the Kingdom of Aksum in the region and the first King/Emperor was Menelik I of
the Ethiopian Empire.
Ethiopia along with Liberia were the only African nations not to be colonised during the
Scramble for Africa in the late 19th-Century. The country was occupied by Italy under
Benito Mussolini in 1936 and became Italian Ethiopia apart of Italian East Africa,
slavery was abolished during this time and urbanization was increased, the nation was
later liberated after World War II.
Ethiopia’s centuries old monarchy would come to an end in 1974 when it was
overthrown by the Derg which was a Communist movement backed by the Soviet Union
and in 1987 the country became the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and was
ruled by the Derg via military junta for a time. The Derg was later overthrown by a
federalist coalition called the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front in
1991 which is the same year the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War practically
ended, the country’s new official name later became the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, the first multiparty elections were held in 1995 and the Ethiopian People’s
Revolutionary Democratic Front have continued to maintain power in the country,
although is now under the name of the Prosperity Party.
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2. The country’s official language is Amharic and other widely used regional languages
include Afar, Harari, Oromo, Tigrinya, Sidama and Somali among others and English is
also widely spoken as well. The largest religion is Christianity but there is also a
significant population of Muslim’s in the country as well. The country’s currency is
called the Birr. The country’s population is over 115,260,000.
Government Type
Emblem of Ethiopia.
The country is a federal parliamentary democracy with a President who is Head of State
although the position is largely ceremonial with the Prime Minister being seen as the
most powerful political figure, being Head of Government and Chief of the Executive.
The legislative government is made up of a bicameral parliament and multiple parties
are allowed although the Revolutionary Party has ruled since 1995, now under its
current name of the Prosperity Party since December 2019.
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3. Ethiopia is a federation and so the country is divided up into several states with their
own state governments, state legislatures, state laws, state judiciary and state
constitution although must still meet the federal constitution and not infringe on
federal laws. States can be formed at the demand of the peoples concerned and a two-
third vote of the Council of the Nation, nationality or people concerned which is
presented to the state council which organises a referendum on the matter and is
decided by majority, if the peoples voted to become a state then the state council
transfers powers to the nation, nationality or people who made the demand.
The federal government is based in Addis Ababa and the city itself is self-governing but
has special cooperation with the state of Oromia.
The Executive Government
Menelik Palace, formerly the seat of power of Ethiopia’s Emperor’s, now contains offices and
residence of the Prime Minister. Photo in Public Domain.
The President
The President is the Head of State but the position is widely ceremonial with the Prime
Minister having the most power. The candidate for President is nominated by the House
of Peoples’ Representatives (lower house of parliament) and both the House of Peoples’
Representatives and the House of Federation (upper house of parliament) will hold a
joint session to elect the chosen candidate for President, the chosen member if elected
will then vacate their seat in parliament.
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4. The President of the Nation’s very limited powers include opening a joint-session of
parliament at the commencement of their annual sessions; proclaiming laws and
international treaties/agreements passed/ratified by the House of Peoples’
Representatives in accordance with the Constitution; appoints ambassadors and envoys
on direction of the Prime Minister; receives credentials of foreign ambassadors and
special envoys; awards medals, prizes and gifts; grants high military titles at the
direction of the Prime Minister and in accordance with the law; and with accordance to
conditions and procedures established by law, grant pardon.
Prime Minister, Council of Ministers and Federal Government
The Prime Minister is Head of Federal Government and the Chief Executive of the
country. The country’s federal government is charged with upholding the federal
constitution; formulating and implementing policies, strategies and plans of the nation
in respect to its economic, social and development matters; establishment and
implementation of national standards and basic policy criteria for public sectors such as
health, education, science and technology and for the protection and preservation of
cultural and historical legacies.
The Federal Government, through the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers also
formulates and executes the country’s financial, monetary, and foreign investment
policies and strategies; enact laws for usage and conservation of land and other natural
resources, historical sites; establishes and administers the national defence and public
security forces and federal police forces; administers the National Bank and regulates
foreign exchange; formulates and implements foreign policy including negotiation and
ratification of international treaties and agreements; responsible for transportation
systems that link two or more states and the postal and telecommunication services;
levy taxes and collect duties and draw up and administer the federal budget; regulate
inter-state and foreign commerce; administer and expand federally funded institutions
that provide services to two or more states; if requested by a state administration, will
deploy federal defence forces to bring a worsening security situation under control;
enact laws covering political parties and elections with respect to constitutional political
rights; declare and lift states of emergency; determine and administer all matters
relating to immigration, etc.
The highest executive powers are vested in the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are responsible to the House of Peoples’
Representatives (lower chamber) and must keep their confidence to remain in power.
Members of the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible for their actions. The
Prime Minister is elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives after elections and
after formation of largest party or coalition.
The Prime Minister is Chairman of the Council of Ministers, coordinating it and acting
as its representatives and the Prime Minister is also Commander-in-Chief of the
Country’s national armed forces. The Prime Minister nominates people either from
within parliament or out of it for positions on the Council of Ministers and these
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5. nominees are confirmed by the House of Peoples’ Representatives. The Prime Minister
follows up on and implements laws, policies, directives and other decisions that are
adopted by the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The Prime Minister supervises the implementation of policies,
regulations, directives and decisions adopted by the Council of Ministers, the Prime
Minister also supervises implementation of foreign policy.
The Prime Minister chooses and submits for approval to the House of Peoples’
Representatives nominations for the posts of Commissioners, President and Vice-
President of the Federal Supreme Court (other Federal Judges are chosen by the Prime
Minister from candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administration Council and
they will be confirmed by the lower chamber of parliament), and the Auditor-General.
The Prime Minister supervises conduct and efficiency of the executive administration
and takes corrective measures required. The Prime Minister submits periodic reports to
the House of Peoples’ Representatives on work accomplished by the Executive and on
its plans and proposals.
The Council of Ministers includes the Prime Minister who chairs it, a Deputy Prime
Minister, Ministers and other members determined by law. As said is responsible to the
Prime Minister and on all of its decisions to the House of Peoples’ Representatives. The
Council of Ministers decide on the organisational structure of ministries and other
organs of government as well as coordinating them and providing them leadership. The
Council of Ministers drafts laws under its competence and introduces them to the
House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The Legislative Government
Parliament is located in the capital city Addis Ababa. Photo from a larger montage by
Foxy1219 on Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.
The legislative government is made up of a bicameral parliament that includes the
House of Peoples’ Representatives as the lower chamber and the House of Federation as
the upper chamber of the legislative government. Each chamber has certain jobs
exclusive to it.
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6. House of Peoples’ Representatives
The House of Peoples’ Representatives may have no more than 550 members (currently
has 547 members) and must have at least 20-seats reserved for minority candidates
(currently has 22 seats reserved for minorities). Members of the House can lose their
seat if they lose the confidence of their electorate. Members of the lower house have
immunity unless they are caught flagrantly abusing the law. The lower house is classed
as the primary house of the people, the largest party or coalition of parties in this lower
house determines control of the Executive Government.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives has power to enact laws such as on the following
matters, usage of land and other natural resources and other rivers and lakes crossing
the boundaries of national territorial jurisdiction or linking two or more states; inter-
state commerce and foreign trade; national transportation such as which links two or
more states and also postal and telecommunication services; electoral laws and
procedures that abide by constitutional political rights; issues and concerns and
legislation on immigration, nationality, passports, exit and entry into the country and
the rights of refugees and asylum; uniform standards of measurement and calendar;
patents and copyrights; and the possession and bearing of arms.
The lower house also has other duties including, enactment of labour code; enactment
of commercial code; enactment of penal code; enactment of civil wars that the House of
Federation (upper chamber) sees as necessary to establish and sustain a single
economic community; determines the organisation of national defence, public security
and national police forces and can carry out investigations and take the necessary
measures when these organisations infringe human rights or public security; can
declare or confirm executive decree of a declaration of state of emergency; confirm a
proclamation of war; approves general economic, social and development policies and
enact laws on local currenct, National Bank and foreign exchange; levy taxes and duties
and ratify federal budget; ratify international treaties and agreements concluded by the
Executive government; confirms appointments of Federal Judges, members of the
Council of Ministers, and officials appointed to public offices; establishes the Human
Rights Commissions and determines its law, powers and functions; call a joint-sitting of
the two chambers over concerns of human rights in a state; has power to call and
question the Prime Minister and other Executive officials and to investigate conduct
and discharge of the Executive Branch; one-third of members can request a discussion
on powers of the Executive Branch and can have powers to take decisions or measures if
needed.
The lower house elects a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of which regulates debate and
makes sure chamber bylaws are followed. The house establishes standing and ad-hoc
committees needed to accomplish work. Meetings of the lower chamber are public
unless one-half of members agree to hold a closed session.
The National Election Board’s members are recommended by the Prime Minister and
confirmed by the lower house.
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7. Legislation passed by this house goes to the President of the Nation to be signed into
law, if the President does not sign a bill into law within 15-days then the bill will
automatically enter into law anyway, if no other action has been taken by the President.
The lower house may be dissolved by the Prime Minister before expiry of the term with
the consent of members of the lower house, after this takes place the President of the
Nation may then invite parties to try and form a new governing coalition within a week,
if the dissolution is down to loss of majority of the former governing party/coalition. If
the previous party/coalition is unable to continue or a new one cannot be agreed upon
then the House will be dissolved and fresh elections called. While the house is dissolved
the previous administration acts as caretaker government with very limited powers
until the election has concluded and a new government formed.
House of Federation
The House of Federation is the upper chamber of parliament and the country’s federal
constitution says that it is composed of representatives of Nations, Nationalities and
Peoples and that each of those are represented in the house by at least one member and
that each Nation or Nationality shall be represented by an additional member for each
one million of its population, currently the House of Federation has 153 members.
Members have same immunity as those of the lower house.
Interestingly the upper chamber actually doesn’t vote on or pass legislation or reviews
legislation passed by the lower house (which goes straight to the President of the
Nation), but is purely in existence to perform its exclusive federal and federal
constitutional duties outlined below.
Exclusive powers of the House of Federation include the power to interpret the
Constitution; organisation of the Council of Constitutional Inquiry; makes judgement
on settling territorial and border disputes and making a final decision between the
nation’s states if they themselves were unable to resolve the issue, also finds solutions
on other issues and misunderstandings between states; decides on issues relating to
rights of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples for self-determination that also includes the
right of secession and id done in accordance with the Constitution; promote the equality
of the Peoples of Ethiopia and promote and consolidate their unity based on their
mutual consent; determines division of revenues from joint Federal and State tax
sources and subsidies that the Federal government may provide to the States;
determines civil matters which may require enactment of laws by the lower house;
power to order Federal Intervention into a state in violation of the constitution or which
endangers the constitutional order.
The Council of Constitutional Enquiry includes eleven members which are the President
and Vice-President of the Federal Supreme Court who act as the councils President and
Vice-President, six legal experts appointed by the President of the Nation that are
recommended by the House of Peoples’ Representatives and three people designated
from the House of Federations from among its own members.
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8. Permanent and ad-hoc committees are established for functioning of the upper house. A
Speaker and Deputy Speaker is elected to regulate debate and make sure house bylaws
are followed. Budget of the upper house is approved by the lower house.
The Electoral System
Photo by NordNordWest and SUM1 from Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 4.0.Source.
Parliamentary elections happen every 5-years for both chambers. For the lower
chamber (House of Peoples’ Representatives), its members are elected from single-seat
constituencies/electoral districts using a first-past-the-post system.
For the upper chamber (House of Federation), its members can be elected by the state
councils indirectly but a state council can also choose to organise elections for people to
directly elect these members.
The Prime Minister is elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives after its own
election has taken place and after the largest party or coalition is determined.
The President of the Nation is elected for a 6-year term, the candidate is chosen by
decision of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and there shall then be a joint-session
of parliament of both the mentioned lower chamber and the House of Federation
(upper chamber), they will then confirm the candidate as President which requires a
two-thirds majority. No one can hold office of President for more than two terms.
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9. To vote one must be a citizen of Ethiopia and be at least 18-years-old.
Sources
My sources come from the country’s 1994 constitution (constituteproject.org) and so
should be as accurate as possible but of course there is a chance I have misinterpreted
something or missed other things and so cross-research is encouraged for those using
this seriously, as well as that the constitution can be changed and so this may eventually
become outdated.
There are two different processes to amend the constitution depending on what part is
being amended. One requires all state councils to approve an amendment by a majority
vote, then the House of Peoples’ Representatives will need to approve it by a two-thirds
majority and finally the House of Federation also by a two-thirds majority.
The other process requires a joint-sitting of both federal chambers to pass it in a two-
thirds majority vote and then for two-thirds of the councils of the member states of the
federation to approve it by majority votes.
And with that Ethiopia now concludes the E countries and next we move on to F
begining with Fiji’s system of government.
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