Government of Japan

Government of Japan

Japan
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Japan
Constitution The Constitution History
The Monarchy Emperor (list) Akihito Crown Prince Naruhito Imperial Family Imperial Household Agency
Legislature National Diet House of Representatives Speaker Bunmei Ibuki Vice-Speaker Hirotaka Akamatsu House of Councillors President Masaaki Yamazaki Vice-President Azuma Koshiishi Leader of the Opposition Banri Kaieda
Executive Prime Minister (list) Shinzō Abe Deputy Prime Minister Tarō Asō Government Cabinet Ministries Administrative Agencies
Judiciary Chief Justice Itsurō Terada Supreme Court Intellectual Property High Court
Administrative Divisions Prefectures Governors (list) Subprefectures Districts Municipalities Mergers and Dissolutions Submunicipalities
Elections House of Councillors 2004 2007 2010 2013 House of Representatives 2003 2005 2009 2012 Next General Election
Political parties Major parties Liberal Democratic Democratic Restoration New Kōmeitō Other parties
Foreign relations Foreign policy
Related topics National Police Imperial Guard Special Assault Team Self-Defense Force Air Ground Maritime
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The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy whereby the power of the Emperor is limited and is relegated primarily to ceremonial duties. The Government, like in most other States, is composed primarily of three branches: the Executive branch, the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch, as defined by the post-war Constitution of Japan.

Under the Constitution, the powers of the Separation of Powers.

The Emperor is unique among constitutional monarchies in that, the Emperor is not even the nominal Chief Executive. He exercises certain executive powers and mainly ceremonial powers on behalf of the people. The Emperor's role is defined by the Constitution to be as "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". The title of Chief Executive is held by the Prime Minister and he is the head of government. The Emperor is, however, known to be and acts effectively as the de facto head of state in diplomatic occasions.

The Emperor

Imperial Standard

The Emperor of Japan (天皇) is the head of the Imperial Family and the de facto symbolic head of state. Even though he is known to be the ceremonial head of state, the Emperor is not even the nominal Chief Executive, and he has no real powers related to the Government. This is clearly stated in article 4 of the Constitution.

Article 6 of the Constitution of Japan gives the Emperor the following ceremonial roles:

1. Appointment of the Prime Minister as designated by the Diet.
2. Appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as designated by the Cabinet.

While the Cabinet is the source of executive power and its power are mostly exercised directly, several of its powers are exercised via the Emperor. The powers exercised by the Emperor, as stipulated by Article 7 of the Constitution, are:

1. Promulgation of amendments of the constitution, laws, cabinet orders and treaties.
2. Convocation of the Diet.
3. Dissolution of the House of Representatives.
4. Proclamation of general election of members of the Diet.
5. Attestation of the appointment and dismissal of Ministers of State and other officials as provided for by law, and of full powers and credentials of Ambassadors and Ministers.
6. Attestation of general and special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights.
7. Awarding of honors.
8. Attestation of instruments of ratification and other diplomatic documents as provided for by law.
9. Receiving foreign ambassadors and ministers.
10. Performance of ceremonial functions.

Fukiage Garden, Tokyo Imperial Palace

It is to be noted that the powers exercised in the advice of the Cabinet, can only be done by the Emperor. This is prominently seen in the 2009 Dissolution of the House of Representatives; the House is temporarily unable to be dissolved for the next general election, as the Emperor and Empress are both visiting Canada.^[1][2]

The Emperor also performs constitutional ceremonies such as the Speech from the Throne ceremony in the National Diet Building. This ceremony opens ordinary and extra sessions of the Diet. Ordinary sessions are opened each January and after each new elections of the House of Representatives, while extra sessions are usually convened around in the autumn.^[3] The 120th anniversary of the Diet was commemorated with the Empress, the Prince and Princess Akishino present.^[4] Article 5 of the Constitution, in accordance with the Imperial Household Law, allows a Regency to be established in the Emperor's name, when the Emperor is unable to perform his duties.

The Current Emperor of Japan (今上天皇) is Akihito, he is officially enthroned on November 12, 1990.^[5] He is styled as His Imperial Majesty (天皇陛下), and his reign bears the era name of Heisei (平成). Naruhito, the Crown Prince of Japan, is the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Executive

The Executive branch of National Diet. He/She appoints or dismisses other members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet as a whole, is responsible to the Diet, and the Diet may dismiss the Cabinet en masse with a motion of no confidence. While most of the Cabinet's powers are exercised directly, some of its powers are exercised nominally by the Emperor.

Prime Minister

Crest of the Prime Minister of Japan

The Prime Minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣) is designated by the National Diet and serves a term of four years or less; with no limits imposed on the number of terms the Prime Minister may hold. The Prime Minister exercises "control and supervision" of the executive branch and is the head of government and commander-in-chief of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He is vested with the power to present bills to the Diet, to sign laws, to declare a state of emergency and may also dissolve the Diet's House of Representatives at will. He presides over the Cabinet of Japan and appoints, or dismisses, the other Cabinet ministers. As the Prime Minister is designated by the Diet before being formally appointed by the Emperor, he is required to report to the Diet when demanded. The Prime Minister must be both a civilian and a member of either house of the National Diet.

※ As of September 7, 2014

The Cabinet

Cabinet Office Building

2nd Building of the Central Common Government Office

Ministry of Finance Building

2nd Building of the Central Common Government Office

The Ministry of Justice Building

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Building

The Cabinet of Japan (内閣) consists of the Ministers of State and the Prime Minister. The members of the Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister and under the Cabinet Law, the number of members of the Cabinet appointed, excluding the Prime Minister himself, must be fourteen or less, but may only be increased to seventeen should a special need arises. Article 68 of the Constitution states that all members of the Cabinet must be civilians and the majority of them must be chosen from among the members of either house of the National Diet. The precise wording leaves an opportunity for the Prime Minister to appoint some non-elected Diet officials. The Cabinet is required to resign en masse while still continuing its functions, till the appointment of a new Prime Minister, when the following situation arises:

1. The Diet's House of Representatives passes a non-confidence resolution, or rejects a confidence resolution, unless the House of Representatives is dissolved within the next ten (10) days.
2. When there is a vacancy in the post of the Prime Minister, or upon the first convocation of the Diet after a general election of the members of the House of Representatives.

The executive power vested within the Cabinet is practiced mainly by the Prime Minister, while some are nominally exercised by the Emperor. Under the Constitution, no Law or Cabinet orders may be enforced without the countersignature of the Prime Minister, and the Emperor exercises some of its powers under the "advice and approval" of the Cabinet.

※ As of October 21, 2014

Ministries

PSIA Building

3rd Central Government Building: MLIT Headquarters

Agency for Cultural Affairs Office Building

Politics of the Constitution of Japan

The Ministries of Japan (行政機関) consist of eleven ministries and the Cabinet Office. The ministers of each ministry are appointed from among the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet Office, formally headed by the Prime Minister, is an agency that handles the day-to-day affairs of the Cabinet. The ministries are the most influential part of the daily-exercised executive power, and are mainly made out of senior legislators.

• Cabinet Office
  • National Public Safety Commission
  • National Police Agency
  • Consumer Affairs Agency
  • Financial Services Agency
  • Fair Trade Commission
  • Imperial Household Agency

※Manages the Imperial Household.

• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
  • Environmental Dispute Coordination Commission
  • Fire and Disaster Management Agency
• Ministry of Justice
  • Public Security Examination Commission
  • Public Security Intelligence Agency
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Finance
  • National Tax Agency
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Agency for Cultural Affairs

※Promotes Arts and Culture, manages copyrights, as well as funding for cultural events in music, theater, dance, art exhibitions, and film-making, and making improvements to the national language.

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
  • Social Insurance Agency
  • Central Labour Relations Commission
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Fisheries Agency
  • Forestry Agency
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
  • Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
  • Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
  • Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
  • Patent Office

※Administers the laws relating to patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks.

• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
  • Japan Transport Safety Board
  • Japan Tourism Agency
  • Japan Meteorological Agency
  • Japan Coast Guard
• Ministry of the Environment
• Ministry of Defense
  • Self-Defense Forces
  • Defense Facilities Administration Agency

※ As of September 7, 2014

The Board of Audit (会計検査院) is the only unique body of the Government; in which, the Board is totally independent from the Diet and the Cabinet. It reviews government expenditures and submits an annual report to the Diet. Article 90 of the Constitution of Japan and the Board of Audit Act of 1947 gives this body substantial independence from both controls.

Legislative

National Diet Building, Nagatachō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

The Legislative branch organ of parallel voting system and is ensured by the Constitution to have no discrimination on the qualifications of each members. The elected members of the Diet are to represent the sovereignty of the people, and this in turn, derives the position of the Emperor; written in Article 43 and Article 1 of the Constitution respectively.

The Diet is charged with the making of laws, the approval of the annual national budget, the approval of the conclusion of treaties and the selection of the Prime Minister. It is also empowered to initiate draft constitutional amendments, of which, if approved, are to be presented to the people for ratification in a referendum before being promulgated by the Emperor in the name of the people, and it may also conduct "investigations in relation to the government". Members of the Cabinet are also required to appear before investigative committees and to answer inquiries. The Diet is also able to impeach Court judges convicted of criminal or irregular conduct. For bills to become Law, they are to be first passed by both houses of the National Diet and then promulgated by the Emperor; without specifically giving the Emperor the power to veto.

The lower house, the House of Representatives, is the more powerful chamber of the Diet. Compared to the House of Representatives, the House of Councillors can only delay the adoption of a budget or a treaty and has limited power in preventing the lower house from selecting any Prime Minister it wishes. Under the Constitution, at least one session of the Diet must be convened each year. The Cabinet can also, at will, convoke extraordinary sessions of the Diet and is required to, when a quarter or more of the total members of either house demands it. During an election, only the House of Representatives is dissolved. The House of Councillors is however, not dissolved but only closed, and may, in times of national emergency, be convoked for an emergency session. The Emperor both convokes the Diet and dissolves the House of Representatives, but only does so on the advice of the Cabinet.

House of Representatives

Chamber of the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives of Japan (衆議院) is the Lower house, with each member of the house being elected for a four-year term. As of September 7, 2014, it has 480 members. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation, and 300 are elected from single-member constituencies. 241 seats are required for majority. The House of Representatives is the more powerful house out of the two, it is able to override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority. It can, however, be dissolved by the Prime Minister at will. Members of the house must be of Japanese nationality; those aged 20 years and older may vote, while those aged 25 years and older may run for office in the lower house.

The legislative powers of the House of Representatives, as stated by the Constitution is considered to be more powerful than those of the House of Councillors. While the House of Councillors has the ability to veto most decisions made by the House of Representatives, some however, can only be delayed. This includes the legislation of treaties, the budget, and the selection of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, and collectively his Cabinet, can in turn, however, dissolve the House of Representatives whenever intended. The dissolution of the House of Representatives, by the advice of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, is to be done only by the Emperor. The House of Representatives is formally dissolved upon the preparation of the document containing the order of the dissolution. The document is wrapped in a purple silk cloth; an indication of a document of State act, done by the Emperor, on behalf of the people. The ceremonial declaration of the dissolution requires the document to be first passed on to the Chief Cabinet Secretary at the House of Representatives President's reception room, before being taken to the Chamber for preparation by the General-Secretary. The General-Secretary then prepares the document for reading by the Speaker. Once the State order is received, the Speaker of the House of Representatives promptly declares the dissolution of the House. It is customary that, upon the dissolution of the House, members will shout the Three Cheers of Banzai (萬歲).^[6]

House of Councillors

Chamber of the House of Councillors

The House of Councillors of Japan (参議院) is the Upper house, with each member of the house being elected for a six-year term. As of September 7, 2014, it has 242 members. Only half of its members are elected each time at each election. Of these, 73 are elected from the 47 prefectural districts, by single non-transferable votes, and 48 are elected from a nationwide list by proportional representation with open lists. The House of Councillors cannot be dissolved by the Prime Minister. Members of the house must be of Japanese nationality; its members must be aged 30 years and older.

As the House of Councillors can veto a decision made by the House of Representatives, the House of Councillors can cause the House of Representatives to reconsider its decision. The House of Representatives however, can still insist on its decision by overwriting the veto by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority of its members present. Each year, and when required, the National Diet is convoked at the House of Councillors, for an extra or an ordinary session, by the Emperor. Before each convocation, a speech about the Diet's convocation is first made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Emperor then proceeds and convokes the Diet with his Speech from the throne.^[3]

Judicial

Supreme Court Building, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Tokyo High Court Building

The Judicial branch of Supreme Court judge may be dismissed by a majority in a referendum; of which, must occur during the first general election of the National Diet's House of Representatives following the judge's appointment, and also the first general election for every ten years lapse thereafter. Court judges are appointed by the Cabinet, in attestation of the Emperor. While the Chief Justice is appointed by the Emperor, as designated by the Cabinet.

The Legal system in Japan has been historically influenced by Chinese law; developing independently during the Edo period through texts such as Kujikata Osadamegaki. It has, however, changed during the Meiji Restoration, and is now largely based on the European civil law. The civil code based on the German model has been in use ever since.^[8] A jury system has recently came into use, and the legal system also includes a bill of rights since May 3, 1947.^[9] The collection of Six Codes makes up the main body of the Japanese statutory law.^[8]

All Statutory Laws in Japan are required to be rubber stamped by the Emperor with the Privy Seal of Japan (天皇御璽), and no Law can take effect without the Cabinet's signature, the Prime Minister's countersignature and the Emperor's approval; however, without specifically giving the Emperor the power to oppose legislation.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Japan (最高裁判所) is the court of last resort and has the power of Judicial review; the power to determine the constitutionality of any law, order, regulation or official acts. The Supreme Court is also responsible for nominating judges to lower courts and determining judicial procedures. It also oversees the judicial system, overseeing activities of public prosecutors, and disciplining judges and other judicial personnel.

High Courts

The High Courts of Japan (高等裁判所) has the jurisdiction to hear appeals to judgments rendered by District Courts and Family Courts, excluding cases under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Criminal appeals are directly handled by the High Courts, but Civil cases are first handled by District Courts. There are eight High Courts in Japan: the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, and Takamatsu High Courts.

Penal system

Human Rights Watch has described the prison system as violating fundamental human rights. Cells are unheated, with temperatures sometimes below zero celsius, and rules are obsessively restrictive and strict.^[10]

Local Government

Administrative divisions of Japan

Japan has a unitary system of government, in which local jurisdictions largely depend on national government financially. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications intervenes significantly in local government, as do other ministries. This is done chiefly financially because many local government jobs need funding initiated by national ministries. This is dubbed as the "thirty-percent autonomy".^[11]

The result of this power is a high level of organizational and policy standardization among the different local jurisdictions allowing them to preserve the uniqueness of their prefecture, city, or town. Some of the more collectivist jurisdictions, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, have experimented with policies in such areas as social welfare that later were adopted by the national government.

Local Authorities

Japan is divided into forty-seven administrative divisions, the prefectures: one metropolitan district (Tokyo), two urban prefectures (Kyoto and Osaka), forty-three rural prefectures, and one "district", Hokkaidō. Large cities are subdivided into wards, and further split into towns, or precincts, or subprefectures and counties.

Cities are self-governing units administered independently of the larger jurisdictions within which they are located. In order to attain city status, a jurisdiction must have at least 30,000 inhabitants, 60 percent of whom are engaged in urban occupations. There are self-governing towns outside the cities as well as precincts of urban wards. Like the cities, each has its own elected mayor and assembly. Villages are the smallest self-governing entities in rural areas. They often consist of a number of rural hamlets containing several thousand people connected to one another through the formally imposed framework of village administration. Villages have mayors and councils elected to four-year terms.

Structure of Local Government

All prefectural and municipal governments in Japan are organized following the Local Autonomy Law, a statute applied nationwide since 1947.

Each jurisdiction has a chief executive, called a governor (知事, chiji) in prefectures and a mayor (市町村長, shichōsonchō) in municipalities. Most jurisdictions also have a unicameral assembly (議会, gikai), although towns and villages may opt for direct governance by citizens in a general assembly (総会, sōkai). Both the executive and assembly are elected by popular vote every four years.

Local governments follow a modified version of the separation of powers used in the national government. An assembly may pass a vote of no confidence in the executive, in which case the executive must either dissolve the assembly within ten days or automatically lose their office. Following the next election, however, the executive remains in office unless the new assembly again passes a no confidence resolution.

The primary methods of local lawmaking are local ordinance (条例, jōrei) and local regulations (規則, kisoku). Ordinances, similar to statutes in the national system, are passed by the assembly and may impose limited criminal penalties for violations (up to 2 years in prison and/or 1 million yen in fines). Regulations, similar to cabinet orders in the national system, are passed by the executive unilaterally, are superseded by any conflicting ordinances, and may only impose a fine of up to 50,000 yen.

Local governments also generally have multiple committees such as school boards, public safety committees (responsible for overseeing the police), personnel committees, election committees and auditing committees. These may be directly elected or chosen by the assembly, executive or both.

All prefectures are required to maintain departments of general affairs, finance, welfare, health, and labor. Departments of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, commerce, and industry are optional, depending on local needs. The Governor is responsible for all activities supported through local taxation or the national government.

See also

• Government
• Sovereignty
• Sovereign state
• Politics of Japan
• Japanese honors system

External links

• Background notes of the US Department of State, Japan's Government
• Search official Japanese Government documents and sites

References