competent legal advice of the Council of Constitutional Inquiry before it arrives at its decision on constitutional matters. Constitutional Amendment: Amending constitution involves a long procedure. It is a rigid one. The formal initiation of a constitutional amendment can come from either federal or regional legislative organs (Negussie, 2006). A third of State Councils constitutionally must have supported a draft by majority vote where an initiative comes from the regions. Otherwise, either of the FH can initiate a constitutional amendment by a two-thirds majority vote. State of Emergency: The Constitution outlines specific procedures and institutions on temporary terms when situations arise that result in a state of emergency (Mattei, 2005). Under such circumstances, the Council of Ministers has the power to issue a decree proclaiming a state of emergency and take the measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and peace of the country and to maintain law, order, and public security. To this end, the Council of Ministers may suspend the political and democratic rights provided for in the Constitution. Inter-governmental Relations: The federal constitution regulates the relationship between the states and the federal government. The FDRE Constitution lists the state/region powers, concurrent powers, the federal powers, and leaves residual powers to the states. The principle of 'mutual respect' between state and federal governments and 'mutual non-interference' in one another's affair is highly recognized in the Constitution. Law making institutions The highest legislative law making institution is the of Peoples' Representatives. Its members are elected by a plurality of the votes cast every five years in general elections. Members of the House of Peoples' Representatives are popularly elected for a five-year term in a
competent legal advice of the Council of Constitutional Inquiry before it arrives at its decision on constitutional matters. Constitutional Amendment: Amending constitution involves a long procedure. It is a rigid one. The formal initiation of a constitutional amendment can come from either federal or regional legislative organs (Negussie, 2006). A third of State Councils constitutionally must have supported a draft by majority vote where an initiative comes from the regions. Otherwise, either of the FH can initiate a constitutional amendment by a two-thirds majority vote. State of Emergency: The Constitution outlines specific procedures and institutions on temporary terms when situations arise that result in a state of emergency (Mattei, 2005). Under such circumstances, the Council of Ministers has the power to issue a decree proclaiming a state of emergency and take the measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and peace of the country and to maintain law, order, and public security. To this end, the Council of Ministers may suspend the political and democratic rights provided for in the Constitution. Inter-governmental Relations: The federal constitution regulates the relationship between the states and the federal government. The FDRE Constitution lists the state/region powers, concurrent powers, the federal powers, and leaves residual powers to the states. The principle of 'mutual respect' between state and federal governments and 'mutual non-interference' in one another's affair is highly recognized in the Constitution. Law making institutions The highest legislative law making institution is the of Peoples' Representatives. Its members are elected by a plurality of the votes cast every five years in general elections. Members of the House of Peoples' Representatives are popularly elected for a five-year term in a
Alanazi%20M%20Ethiopian.docx