Objective 2: To foster constitutional democracy, including periodic competition and opportunity for choice, the rule of law, a Bill of Rights and the supremacy of the Constitution, as firmly established in the Constitution I. Summary of the CSAR Competition for Power and Promotion of Democratic Governance Collective and Individual Political Rights 137. According to the CSAR, Chapter Three of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia guarantees two types of fundamental rights and freedoms: “human rights,” and “democratic rights”. 138. The report also points out that in the Constitution, the Judiciary, the Human Rights Commission, and the Ombudsman, are designated principal institutions for the observance and respect of the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution. Sovereignty is vested by the Constitution in the “Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia,” in addition to entrenching its supremacy as the supreme law of the land, and prohibiting the assumption of state power in any manner other than that provided for under the Constitution. The CSAR concludes from these observations that under this constitution, Ethiopia operates a system of government based on the entrenched principle of the separation of powers, with checks and balances, at federal and regional state levels. The Constitution also prescribes a parliamentary system of government as described below. (See Objective 4, To uphold the Principle of Separation of Powers, including protection of the independence of the Judiciary and of an effective Parliament.) The Right to Form Political Parties 139. Regarding the right to form political parties, the CSAR notes that under Article 31, and Article 38(b), the Ethiopian Constitution provides for competitive party politics. The revised political parties’ registration Proclamation No. 573/2008 outlines the procedure for political party registration with the National Election Board (NEBE). Furthermore, according to the report, Proclamation No. 573/2008 not only spells out the sources of party financing, but also requires political parties to establish acceptable income and expenditure accounting procedures, and prepare and publish annual audit reports. Article 59 of the Electoral Law guarantees political parties and their supporters equitable access to state-owned mass media, including radio, TV, and newspapers. - 81 -