CHAPTER TEN#

The Council of State#

Article 81#

  1. The Council of State, established in accordance with Article 63 sub-article 3(a) of this Constitution, is an organ of state power functioning as a standing body of the National Shengo.

  2. The Council of State shall have a President, Vice Presidents, a Secretary and members.

  3. The President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is the President of the Council of State.

  4. The Vice President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is Vice President of the Council of State.

Article 82#

The Council of State shall have the following powers and duties:

a) Ensure the implementation of the Constitution and other laws;

b) Interpret the Constitution and other laws;

c) Revoke regulations and directives issued by state organs accountable to the National Shengo, whenever these are contrary to laws enacted by the National Shengo, the Council of State and the President of the Republic;

d) Ratify and denounce international treaties;

e) Grant amnesty;

f) Grant citizenship;

g) Grant political asylum;

h) Award medals, orders and prizes.

a) Announce the date of election for the National Shengo and regional shengos;

b) Call regular and extraordinary sessions of the National Shengo;

c) Coordinate the work of the standing and ad hoc commissions of the National Shengo;

d) Establish the Defense Council;

e) Oversee the discharge of responsibilities by the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court, the Procurator General, the National Workers’ Control Committee and the Auditor General;

f) Perform other duties assigned to it by the National Shengo;

g) Submit reports on its activities to the National Shengo.

  1. The Council of State may issue Decrees where legislation is required to implement the powers and duties entrusted to it in sub-articles 1 and 2 of this Article.

Article 83#

  1. Without prejudice to Article 119 of this Constitution, the Council of State may, between sessions of the National Shengo, issue Special Decrees when necessary.

  2. When compelling circumstances arise between sessions of the National Shengo, the Council of State may proclaim a state of emergency, war, martial law, mobilization or peace.

  3. Special Decrees issued in accordance with sub-articles I and 2 of this Article must be submitted to and approved by the National Shengo at its next session.