Government of the Ethiopian Empire

Imperial government of Ethiopia
Absolute monarchy (1270–1931)
Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (1931–1974)
The Lion of Judah—emblem of the Ethiopian Empire
Formation1270
Extinction12 September 1974
Country
Legislative branch
Legislature
Executive branch
Yekuno Amlak (first) (1270–1285)Emperor
Haile Selassie (last) (1930–1974)Emperor
Headquarters
Main organ
  • Chamber of Senate and Chamber of Deputies (1955–1974)

The Government of the Ethiopian Empire was historically based on the framework of absolute monarchy with a feudal system, where religious legitimacy and the wealthier class were generally prone to priority. Societies were characterized by social inequality and opportunities for social mobility through military performance. There are famines, droughts and illegitimate land acquisition from peasants and landowners.

Under Emperor Menelik II, Ethiopia became a centralized state under a multiethnic empire with over 80 ethnic groups despite having Shewan Amhara dominance. Ethiopia was then modernized by Emperor Haile Selassie after his coronation in 1930, bringing two constitutions in 1931 and revisited in 1955 that was a unitary parliamentary system with the legislature divided into the Chamber of Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.