Legislative Drafting Manual

partly due to deficiencies in drafting. Hence, establishing clear drafting 
techniques and procedures minimizes such deficiencies by enhancing 
the quality of legislative products.

Corruption may be facilitated by contradictions, loopholes and 
fragmentations in legislations. Thus, it is the other significance of this 
drafting manual to avoid or minimize loopholes and contradictions in 
legislations, thereby minimizing the possibility of abusing laws.
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2. Goal  
Within the super goal of promoting rule of law, the manual has the goal of 
developing uniformity in Ethiopia‟s legislative drafting techniques styles and 
procedures, thereby ensuring the quality and effectiveness of legal texts for the 
social, economic and political development and transformation of Ethiopia. 
3. Scope
This manual is basically concerned with primary legislations. Nevertheless, since 
it incorporates general drafting techniques, styles and procedures, the manual is 
also applicable in drafting regulations and decrees.
Territorially, the manual is intended to be consulted by (any) drafter(s) of federal 
and regional legislations. 
Chapter 2 
Legislative Drafting Procedures 
2.1. Drafting Timetables  
1. 
On top of enabling drafters to be guided by a clear program of action, 
timetables have the importance of:
a. 
enabling the government [example the Council of Ministers] to plan 
ahead for the approval of the drafts and for subsequent submission to 
parliament;
b. 
facilitating the planning of the work of the parliament; and
c. 
enabling concerned ministries to set internal work plans and to allocate 
the necessary resources accordingly.
2. 
Timetables shall be prepared by the institution initiating and supervising the 
drafting in consultation with the Drafter. And the drafter shall undertake the 
task strictly as per the timetable set.