| Parliament name |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete / House of Peoples' Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Yefedereshein Mekir Bete / House of the Federation
|
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (see Art. 50 (3) and 54 (4) of the Constitution of 21.08.1995) |
| Start of the mandate |
· On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets |
| Validation of mandates |
· No validation |
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets (for early dissolution, see Art. 60 of the Constitution) |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Of their own free will (precedents)
· Procedure: by addressing Parliament at one of its sittings
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Speaker |
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
(a) Revocation before expiry of mandate by the electorate in case of loss of confidence (Art. 12 (3) and 54 (7) of the Constitution). Procedure (Art. 4 (1) to (3) of the Proclamation No. 88/1997).
(b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for misconduct (see also Discipline and Code of conduct) |
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
· Outside Parliament: |
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic or official passport
· Basic salary: ETB 18,000 per year + Additional allowance: ETB 600 per year
· Total exemption from tax
· No pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Official housing |
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 54 (5) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: forwarding of unsubstantiated matters to the floor, untruthfulness, slander and libel (see also Art. 12 (2) of the Constitution)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. |
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 54 (6) of the Constitution).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, an MP can be arrested or prosecuted without the permission of the Council of People's Representatives.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. It does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 54 (6) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Council of People's Representatives
- Procedure: |
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure: |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
NA (no information received) |
| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in ...
· Disciplinary measures foreseen
- Order to leave the sitting
- Order to present apologies
- Fines
- Suspension from Parliament
- Exclusion from Parliament
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- The Council of People's Representatives, on recommendation of a Committee of Inquiry
· Procedure |
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the code of conduct
- Verbal warning
- Written warning
- Open warning
- Suspension from Parliament
- Exclusion from Parliament
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Council of People's Representatives
· Procedure. In this case, MPs have means of recourse. |
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
