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CONSTITUTIONS IN ETHIOPIAN HISTORY: REFLECTION ON IMPORTANT HISTORICAL LANDMARKS [Abstract ID: 0706-01]
In Ethiopia besides the indigenous constitutional traditions (like the Gadaa system of Oromo or the Mikiricho, council or advisor system of Keffa or Wolayita), the Central Government used two traditional/religious semi-constitutional documents, Kibre Negest and Fitiha Negest. Then in the 1931 Emperor Haile Silassie introduced the first modern constitution and it was revised in 1955. Then there is not well considered the 1974 draft constitution, which projects the constitutional monarchy. When Derg came to power in the same year, it made two proclamations that established a provisional military administration and in 1987 ratified a constitution at a long process. After the demeans of Derg the Transitional Charter in 1991 and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia established in 1995. The present study shows the core points in historical evolution of the constitutions, the first time when state and church are separated and the response of the Ethiopian church at that time, key precedent links to the FDRE's constitution, main theme of ethnic federalism and other landmarks by analysing the rarely covered historical documents from Ethiopian Nationalities Study Institution and the 1974 draft constitution and the minutes of the constitutional assembly and other related documents.