Imperial Parliament of Ethiopia

The Imperial Parliament of Ethiopia was the bicameral legislature of the Ethiopian Empire from 1931 to 1974. It consisted of the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, and the upper house, Senate. The legislature was established in the 1931 Constitution, all members appointed, primarily by the Emperor of Ethiopia. The 1955 Constitution introduced elections to the lower chamber. The Ethiopian Parliament Building was the meeting place of the imperial parliament. The last elections took place in 1973. The legislature was abolished by the Derg.

Senate

The Senate, Yaheg Mawossegna Meker-bet, was established in 1931. Initially, its members were appointed, and they came from the nobility, the aristocracy, cabinet ministers, and civil servants. The chamber was reformed in the 1955 constitution so that the members were appointed by aristocrats. In 1974, there were 125 members in the chamber.

Senate Presidents

Name	Took office	Left office	Notes
Bidwoded Wolde Tsadeq Goshu	1931	1936
Kentiba Gebru Desta	1941	?
Negash Bezabeh	1942	1943
Blattengeta Lorenzo Taezaz	1943	1944
Tsahafe Taezaz Wolde Maskal	1944	1945
Mangasha Jambare	1945	1946
Ras Bidwoded Makonnen Endelkachew	1957	1961
Ras Asrate Kassa	1961	1964
Lt-Gen. Abey Abeba	1964	1974

Chamber of Deputies

The Chamber of Deputies, Yaheg Mamria Meker-beth, was established in 1931. Initially, the members were chosen by the Emperor of Ethiopia, the nobility and the aristocrats. The chamber was reformed by the 1955 constitution, and members were to be elected. In 1974, there were 250 members in the chamber.

Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies

Name	Took office	Left office	Notes
Blattengeta Belatcho Yadete	1943	1945-?
Grazmatch Gebre Kristos Wolde Michael	?-1953	1953-?
Lij Haile Mariam Kebede	1955	1957
Wossen Hailu	1957	1960
Girma Wolde-Giorgis	1961	1965
Fitawrari Bayissa Jemmo	?-1966	1967
Ato Tadesse Taye	1967	1969-?
Ato Seife Taddese	1970	1974
Ato Abebe Wendimeneh	1974	1974