Government and administration in Ethiopia

Ethiopia · Government

How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.

The three branches

Head of state — President: Elected by both federal chambers for six years; largely ceremonial.
Executive — Prime Minister and Council of Ministers: Drawn from the majority in the House of Peoples' Representatives; holds real executive power.
Legislature — House of Peoples' Representatives and House of Federation: The upper house represents nations and nationalities and holds the interpretive power.
Judiciary — Federal Judicial Administration Council: Nominates federal judges for parliamentary approval.

How legislation is made

Bills are introduced by the Council of Ministers or by members of the House of Peoples' Representatives, examined in standing committee, and passed by simple majority. The House of Federation does not participate in ordinary legislation — its functions are constitutional interpretation, approving state-of-emergency declarations affecting rights, and deciding questions about nations and nationalities. Proclamations take effect on publication in the Federal Negarit Gazeta, which is the authoritative text.

Enforcement institutions

Federal Attorney General and regional justice bureaux: Prosecution at federal and regional level respectively.
Ethiopian Federal Police: Federal policing, with regional police commissions in each state.
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission: Investigates corruption in federal institutions.
National Bank of Ethiopia: Central bank and financial-sector supervisor.

Government bodies and regulators

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