| Government Form: | Regional State |
| Country: | Ethiopia |
| Document: | 2001-REVISED CONSTITUTION OF THE AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE |
| Branch2: | Legislative (The Regional Council) |
| Legislature: | Regional Parliament (The Regional Council) |
| Meeting Place: | Amhara Legislative Building, Bahir Dar, Amhara |
| Branch3: | Executive (President) |
| Leader Type: | Head of government |
| Leader Title: | President Arega Kebede |
| Leader Type2: | Leader |
| Main Organ: | Council of the Regional Government (Cabinet) |
| Branch4: | Judicial (Regional Court) |
| Court: | Regional Supreme Court (highest court) |
| Government Name: | Regional Government of Amhara |
The government of Amhara Region is composed of the executive branch, led by the President; the legislative branch, which comprises the Regional Council; and the judicial branch, which is led by the Regional Supreme Court. The Amhara Region alongside almost all other regions are based on a singular ethnicity excluding Chartered Cities, Addis Ababa, and Dire Dawa and the Region Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region.[1]
The executive branch is headed by the President of Amhara. The current president is Arega Kebede, a member of the Prosperity Party elected in September 2021 upon the appointment of his predecessor, Agegnehu Teshager, as Speaker of the House of Federation.[2] [3] [4] The Vice President of Amhara succeeds the president in the event of any removal from office, and performs any duties assigned by the president. The other offices in the executive branch cabinet are the Regional Health Bureau, Educational Bureau, and 20 other officials. The president of the region also is the chair-person of the Governing Council. There has only been one assassination attempt and that was during the 2019 coup attempt which resulted in the death of then president of Amhara Ambachew Mekonnen, then chief of staff of the ENDF Se'are Mekonnen and Aide-de-Camp Maj. General Gizae Aberra.[5] [6]
The President of the Region is charged with leading the Council of the Regional Government and selecting his Vice-President and giving him his duties.
Source:[7]
The deputy head of government (vice president) is appointed to the position by the President of the Amhara Region and is held accountable to both the President and the Regional Council.
There are three levels of the Amhara state judiciary. The lowest level is the court of common pleas: each woreda maintains its own constitutionally mandated court of common pleas, which maintain jurisdiction over all justiciable matters. The intermediate-level court system is the district court system. Four courts of appeals exist, each retaining jurisdiction over appeals from common pleas, municipal, and county courts in an administrative zone. A case heard in this system is decided by a three-judge panel, and each judge is elected.
The highest-ranking court, the Amhara Supreme Court, is Amhara's "court of last resort". A seven-justice panel composes the court, which, by its own discretion, hears appeals from the courts of appeals, and retains original jurisdiction over limited matters. The chief judge is called the President of Amhara Supreme Court (Yeneneh Simegn). The President nominates the president and vice president of the Supreme Court to the Regional Council who then appoint them to the position. All other judges in Amhara are appointed to their positions by the Regional Council upon the Regional Commission of Judicial Administration's recommendation.
In the countryside, traditional courts are established, in Amhara they're called 'Shemagelle' (elder) and disputes can be brought to them instead of the formal court system.[8]
The Regional Council, which is the highest administrative body of the state, is made up of 294 members. They are charged with electing a President amongst themselves and confirming appointments such as Supreme Court Judges. They are allowed to levy taxes on agriculture and collect royalties for deforestation.
Like other regions in Ethiopia, Amhara is subdivided into administrative zones. It's composed of 11 zones, and 145 Weredas.[9]
Amhara is represented by 138 representatives in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Peoples' Representatives. All Representatives belong to the Prosperity Party federally. The Regional Government of Amhara recently annexed Welkait from Tigray during the Tigray War and administers the territory.[10]