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Ethiopia adopted a new
constitution that established
the Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia (FDRE) in 1995.The
federal government is responsible
for national defense, foreign
relations and general policy
of common interest and benefits.
The federal state comprise
nine autonomous states vested
with power for self-determination.
The FDRE is structured along
the lines of bicameral parliament,
with the council of Peoples’
Representatives being the
highest authority of the
federal government while
the federal council represents
the common interests of
the nations, nationalities
and peoples of the states.
Members of both councils
are elected by universal
suffrage for a five-year
term.
The federal state is headed
by a constitution president
and the federal government
by an executive prime minister
who is accountable to the
council of peoples’
Representative. Each autonomous
state is headed by a state
president elected by the
state council. The judiciary
is constitutionally independent.
The Federal Democratic
Republic is composed of
state which are delimited
on the basis of settlement
patterns, language, identity
and consent of the peoples
concerned.
- The
Constitution
- General
Provision
The constitution is
the supreme law of
the land. Human rights
and freedoms, emanating
from the nature of
mankind, are inviolable
and inalienable. In
addition, state and
religion are separate
and there is no state
religion. Besides,
the state does not
interfere in religious
matters and vice versa.
All Ethiopian languages
enjoy equal state
recognition and Amharic
would be the working
language of the Federal
government.
- Fundamental
rights and freedom
All persons are equal
before the law and are
guaranteed equal and
effective protection,
without discrimination
on grounds of race,
nation, nationality,
or other social origin,
color, sex, language,
religion, political
or other opinion property,
birth or other status.
Every one has the right
to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion
and the freedom, either
individually or in community
with others, and in
public or private, to
manifest his/her religion
or belief in worship,
observance, practice
and teaching. Every
person has the inviolable
and inalienable right
of life, privacy and
the security of person
and liberty.
- Democratic
Rights
Every one has the
right to hold opinions
and has freedom of
expression without
interference. Freedom
of the press and other
media and freedom
of artistic creativity
is also guaranteed
without the prohibition
of any form of censorship
and giving access
to information of
public interest. Every
person has the right
to assemble and to
demonstrate together
with others peaceably
and unarmed and to
petition. Besides,
the constitution gives
for any person the
right to freedom of
association for any
cause or purpose.
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