The_Revised_Constitution_of_The_Empire_of_Ethiopia-Chapter

Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I

The Revised Constitution of The Empire of Ethiopia - 1955 Constitution

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Chapter II

THE POWERS AND PEROGATIVES OF THE EMPEROR

ARTICAL 26

The Sovereignty of the Empire is vested in the Emperor and the supreme
authority over all the affairs of the Empire is exercised by Him as the Head of
State, in the manner provided for in the present Constitution.

ARTICAL 27

The Emperor determines the organization, powers and duties of all Ministers,
executive departments and the administrations of Government and appoints,
promotes, transfers, suspends and dismisses the officials of the same.

ARTICAL 28

The Emperor appoints Mayors of the municipalities referred to in Artical 129 of
the present Constitution, from three candidates presented, in each case, by the
Municipal Councils thereof.

ARTICAL 29

the Armed Forces, He has the right to organize and command the said forces; to
the Armed Forces, He has the right to organize and command the said forces; to
commission and to confer military rank upon officers of the said forces; and to
promote, transfer or dismiss any of the said officers. He has, further, the right to
declare a state of siege, martial law, or a national emergency, and to take such
measures as are necessary to meet a threat to the defence or integrity of the
Empire and to assure its defences and integrity.
Empire and to assure its defences and integrity.

ARTICAL 30

The Emperor exercises the supreme direction of the foreign relations of the
Empire. The Emperor accredits and recieves Ambassadors, Ministers and
Missions; He, alone, has the right to settle disputes with foreign Powers by
adjudication and other peaceful means, and provides for and agrees to measures
of co-operation with foreign Powers for the realization of the ends of security and
common defence. He, alone, has the right to ratify, on behalf of Ethiopia, treaties
and other international agreements, and to determine which treaties and
international agreements shall be subject to ratification before becoming binding
upon the Empire. However, all treaties of peace and all treaties and international
agreements involving a modification of the territory of the Empire, or of
sovereignty jurisdiction over any part of such territory, or laying a burden on
Ethiopian subjects personally, or modifying legislation in existence, or requiring
expenditures of state funds, or involving loans or monopolies, shall, before
becoming binding upon the Empire and the inhabitants thereof, be laid before
Parliament, and if both the Houses of Parliament shall approve the same in
accordance with the provisions of Articals 88-90 inclusive of the present
Constitution, shall then be submitted to the Emperor for ratification.

ARTICAL 31

(a) The Emperor alone confers and withdraws the title of Prince and other
honours, and institutes new orders.

(b) Without His special leave, no Ethiopian subject, nor any foreign national in
any Government service in the Empire, may accept any honour, insignia of order,
dignity, or title of or from, a foreign government. The granting of any title, honour or
order may exempt no one from the common duties and burdens of the subjects,
nor may it carry any preferential admission to offices of the State.

(c) Officials who are released from office with any assurances of Imperial favour,
retain the title and rank of the office they have filled.

(d) The Emperor also makes grants from abandoned properties, and properties
in escheat, for the perpose of recompensing faithful service to the Crown.

ARTICAL 32

The Emperor has the right to coin, print, and issue money.

ARTICAL 33

The Emperor has the right to convene the annual sessions of the deliberative
Chambers and to convoke extraordinary sessions thereof. At the opening of each
session of Chambers, He may present, or cause to be presented, a speech from
the Throne concerning the legislative program recommended by Him. He has the
right to postpone the opening of and to suspend, for not more than thirty days, and
to extend, any session of Parliament. He has the right to dissolve the Chambers,
or either of them, by an Order, providing at the same time for the appointment of a
new Senate or the election of a new Chamber of Deputies, or both, as the case
may be, and for the convocation of the Chamber for session within four months
from the date of the Order.

ARTICAL 34

In accordance with the provisions of Articals 86, 88, 91, and 92 of the present
Constitution, the Emperor has the right to initiate legislation and to originate other
resolutions and to proclaim all laws, after the same shall have been passed by the
Parliament.

ARTICAL 35

The Emperor has the right and the duty to maintain justice through the courts; and
the right to grant pardons and amnesties and to commute penalties.

ARTICAL 36

The Emperor, as Sovereign, has the duty to take all measures that may be
necessary to ensure, at all times, the defence and integrity of the Empire; the
safety and welfare of its inhabitants, including their enjoyment of the human rights
and fundamental liberties recognized in the present Constitution; and the
protection of all His Subjects and their rights and interests abroad. Subject to the
provisions of this Constitution, He has all the right and powers necessary for the
accomplishment of the ends set out in the present Artical.

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The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc.

Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I