The New Ethiopian Constitution: Its Impact upon Unity, Human Rights and Development Lead Article 20 Suffolk Transnational Law Review 1996-1997

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20 Suffolk Transnat'l L. Rev. 1 (1996-1997)
The New Ethiopian Constitution: Its Impact upon Unity, Human Rights and Development

handle is hein.journals/sujtnlr20 and id is 9 raw text is: THE NEW ETHIOPIAN
CONSTITUTION: ITS IMPACT UPON
UNITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND
DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSOR MINASSE HAILE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction ....................... 3
II. Brief Background ................... 7
III. An Overview of Ethnic Federations ........... 10
A. Reason for the Failure of
Ethnic Federations ..... ................ 11
B. Some Examples of Ethnic (Tribal) Federations 14
1. The Failure of the Nigerian Constitution . 14
2. The Longevity and Final Collapse of the
Soviet Federation .... .............. 16
3. The Success of the Indian Federation . . . 17
IV. The Tribal Federation of Ethiopia: the Distribution
of Constitutional Power .................... 19
A. The Nine Near-Sovereign Tribes .......... 20
1. Sovereignty Resides in the State ....... 20
2. Common Characteristics of Ethiopians . . 22
B. Disproportionate Distribution of Powers . . . . 24
1. Powers Given to the State Collectively
Through the Federal Council .......... 25
a. What is the FC? ............... 25
b. The FC has the exclusive authority to
make the final interpretation of the
constitution .................. 26
1) The Council of Constitutional
* Professor of Law, Cardozo School of Law; Ph.D. 1961, M.A. 1957,
Juris Doctor 1954, Columbia University; B.A. University of Wisconsin; Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Ethipia, 1971-1974; Ambassador of Ethiopia to the United
States, 1968-1971; Minister of Information & Tourism, 1965-1968; Chairman of
the Emperor's Cabinet, 1962-1968; Civil Service Commissioner, 1961-1962;
Legal Advisor, Government of Ethiopia, 1961.