Official language: Amharic Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5 percent, Protestant 18.6 percent (which include Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus), Muslim 33.9 percent , Traditional 2.6 percent, Catholic 0.7 percent, All Others 0.6 percent (2007 Census). Literacy: Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total Population: 42.7 percent Male: 50.3 percent Female: 35.1 percent (2003 est.) DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE Independence: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 3,000 years old Constitution: Ratified on 8 December 1994, promulgated on 22 August 1995 Legal system: Based on civil law; currently a transitional mix of national and regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive Arm: Chief of State: President Girma Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001) Head of Government: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (since August 1995) Cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 Constitution; Ministers are selected by the Prime Minister and approved by the House of People’s Representatives Legislature: Bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation (or Upper Chamber responsible for interpreting the Constitution and federal- regional issues) (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People’s Representatives (or Lower Chamber responsible for passing legislation) (547 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms) Elections: Parliamentary election took place on 23 May 2010 Election results: The Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) 499, The Somali People’s Democratic Party (SPDP) 24, The Benishangul Gumuz - 11 -