IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Ethiopia

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Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Region: Africa

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis *
Head of Government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi
Assembly: Ethiopia has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the House of Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) with 110 seats and the House of People's Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) with 547 seats.

* The President is elected by indirect vote by the House of People's Representatives to serve a 6-year term, renewable once.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by indirect vote to serve a 6-year term.
In the House of Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) 110 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms*. In the House of People's Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) 547 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.**

* Seats are apportioned to each region in proportion to its number of millions of citizens. Each region (i.e. "Nation, Nationality, or People") has a minimum of one seat. Members are elected to these seats by regional councils. Regional councils may opt to hold direct elections, but none currently does.

** 22 constituencies are reserved to nationally recognized "Nationalities and Peoples."