CHAPTER EIGHT#
GENERAL PROVISIONS#
ARTICLE 122#
The present revised Constitution, together with those international treaties, conventions and obligations to which Ethiopian shall be party, shall be the supreme law of the Empire, and all future legislation, decrees, orders, judgments, decisions and acts inconsistent therewith shall be null and void.
ARTICLE 123#
The city of Addis Ababa is the capital of the Empire.
ARTICLE 124#
The Flag of the Empire consists of three horizontal bands, the uppermast green, the middle yellow and the nethermost red, in such details as determined by law.
ARTICLE 125#
The official language of the Empire is Amharic.
ARTICLE 126#
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, founded in the fourth century, on the doctrines of St. Mark, is the Established Church of the Empire and is, as such, supported by the State. The Emperor shall always profess the Ethiopian Orthodox Faith. The name of the Emperor shall be mentioned in all religious services.
ARTICLE 127#
The organization and secular administration of the Established Church shall be governed by law. The Patriarch and Bishops shall be elected by the ecclesiastical electoral college consisting of representatives of the clergy and of the laity of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The spiritual consecration shall be performed according to the Canonical Law subject to the approval of the Emperor of their election and appointment. The Emperor has the right to promulgate the decrees, edicts, and public regulations for the Church, except those concerning monastic life and other spiritual administrations.
ARTICLE 128#
No one shall utilize religious activities or organizations for commercial purposes except as authorized by law.
ARTICLE 129#
Subject to the conditions established by legislation duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Articles 88, 89, or 90 of the present Constitution, all towns shall be incorporated by Charters established in accordance with such legislation, and municipal councils shall be established respectively in municipalities of the Empire.
ARTICLE 130#
(A) The natural resources of, and in the sub-soil of the Empire including those beneath its waters, are State Domain.
(B) The natural resources in the waters, forests, land, air, lakes, rivers and ports of the Empire are sacred trust for the benefit of present and succeeding generations of the Ethiopian people. The conservation of the said resources is essential for the preservation of the Empire. The Imperial Ethiopian Government shall accordingly take all such measures as may be necessary and proper, in conformity with the Constitution, for the conservation of said resources.
(C) None of the said resources shall be exploited by any person, natural or juridical, in violation of the principles of conservation established by Imperial Law.
(D) All property not held and possessed in the name of any person natural or juridical, including all land in escheat, and all abandoned properties, whether real or personal, as well as all products of the sub-soil, all forests and all grazing lands, water courses, lakes and territorial waters are State Domain.
ARTICLE 131#
The Constitution may be amended by an identical Joint Resolution adopted by three-fourths of the members of each Chamber in two separate sessions of Parliament and proclaimed with the approval and authority of the Emperor.
Given at Addis Ababa this Twenty-fourth day of Tekemt 1948 (\(4^th\) November 1955)