The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Government of Ethiopia are governed under the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia adopted in 1995. The Constitution established a federation of nine National Regional States drawn along the lines of Ethiopia’s major ethno-linguistic nations and nationalities along with two chartered cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa). The nine Regional States include: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Harar, Oromia, Somali, SNNPNRS (in full the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ National Regional State), and Tigray.

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining ministers in the Cabinet, also known as the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is designated by the party which wins a majority of seats in the 547-seat lower House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) which is elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The bicameral Federal Parliamentary Assembly is constituted by both the HoPR and the upper House of Federation (HoF) made up of 112 members elected by the State Councils. The HoPR also elects the President of Ethiopia, the country’s Head of State, who serves in six-year terms.