Imperial Parliament of Ethiopia የኢትዮጵያ ንጉሠ ነገሥት ፓርላማ | |
|---|---|
EmperorHaile Selassie giving aspeech from the throne in front of parliament | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate and Chamber of Deputies |
| History | |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Disbanded | 1974 |
| Succeeded by | National Shengo |
| Elections | |
Last Chamber of Deputies election | 1973 |
| Meeting place | |
| Ethiopian Parliament Building | |
TheImperial Parliament of Ethiopia (Amharic:የኢትዮጵያ ንጉሠ ነገሥት ፓርላማ) was thebicameral legislature of theEthiopian Empire from 1931 to 1974. It consisted of the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, and the upper house, Senate. The legislature was established in the1931 Constitution, all members appointed, primarily by theEmperor of Ethiopia.The 1955 Constitution introduced elections to the lower chamber. TheEthiopian Parliament Building was the meeting place of the imperial parliament. The last elections took place in1973. The legislature was abolished by theDerg.
The Senate,Yaheg Mawossegna Meker-bet (የሕግ መወሰኛ ምክር ቤት), was established in 1931. Initially, its members were appointed, and they came from the nobility, the aristocracy, cabinet ministers, and civil servants.[1] The chamber was reformed in the 1955 constitution so that the members were appointed by aristocrats. In 1974, there were 125 members in the chamber.[2]
| Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BidwodedWolde Tsadeq Goshu | 1931 | 1936 | [3] |
| KentibaGebru Desta | 1941 | ? | [4] |
| Negash Bezabeh | 1942 | 1943 | |
| BlattengetaLorenzo Taezaz | 1943 | 1944 | [5] |
| Tsahafe TaezazWolde Maskal | 1944 | 1945 | [6] |
| Mangasha Jambare | 1945 | 1946 | |
| Ras BidwodedMakonnen Endelkachew | 1957 | 1961 | [7][5] |
| RasAsrate Kassa | 1961 | 1964 | [5] |
| Lt-Gen.Abey Abeba | 1964 | 1974 | [1][8] |
The Chamber of Deputies,Yaheg Mamria Meker-beth, was established in 1931. Initially, the members were chosen by theEmperor of Ethiopia, the nobility and the aristocrats.[1] The chamber was reformed by the 1955 constitution, and members were to be elected. In 1974, there were 250 members in the chamber.[2]
| Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlattengetaBelatcho Yadete | 1943[9] | 1945-? | [6] |
| GrazmatchGebre Kristos Wolde Michael | ?-1953 | 1953-? | |
| LijHaile Mariam Kebede | 1955 | 1957 | |
| Wossen Hailu | 1957 | 1960 | [10] |
| Girma Wolde-Giorgis | 1961 | 1965 | [11] |
| FitawrariBayissa Jemmo | ?-1966 | 1967 | |
| AtoTadesse Taye | 1967 | 1969-? | [12] |
| AtoSeife Taddese | 1970 | 1974 | [13] |
| AtoAbebe Wendimeneh | 1974 | 1974 | [14] |