2021/10/03 by Muluken Kassahun Amid, Amid, Muluken Kassahun
Social Sciences · #African history and culture analysis #Constitutional Interpretation Commission (CIC) #Council of Constitutional Inquiry (CCI) #Judicial and Constitutional Studies #Political Systems and Governance #Proclamation No. 224/2015 #Proclamation No. 225/2015 #Revised Amhara National Regional State Constitution (Revised ANRS Constitution)
paper · doi:10.20372/80kfrc88
openalex publication_date 2021/10/03 · openalex created_date 2025/12/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
In Federal Ethiopia, all regional states have established their own regional constitutional review mechanisms. In this regard, the Revised Amhara national regional state Constitution has vested such powers to the Constitutional Interpretation Commission (the final interpreter) and the Regional Council of Constitutional Inquiry (the advisory body). These organs are entrusted to review all constitutionality claims on any laws and decisions of the regional government organs. Each organ is empowered to entertain abstract and concrete cases, political and non-political questions, as well as constitutional complaints. This article aims to examine whether the region's constitutional review system is designed in a manner that ensures regional constitutional supremacy. The article argues that, because the Constitutional Interpretation Commission is composed of non-professional constitutional interpreters, the system is institutionally subject to lack of independence and impartiality, and fusion of powers. Besides, both the Council of Constitutional Inquiry and the Constitutional Interpretation Commission are not practically in a position to regularly perform their constitutional interpretation mandates. This may make the organs less trustworthy to be regarded as guardians of people’s and individual rights set out under the region’s constitution.