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The constitutional monarchy of Japan operates under a constitution first adopted on May 3, 1947. |
National Anthemn
"Kimigayo - The Reign of Our Emperor" |
Japan is a constitutional monarchy in which the Emperor remains the symbol of the state.
The Emperor, who inherits his throne and performs some ceremonial duties specified in the Constitution, possesses no real power. The sovereignty once embodied in the Japanese Emperor is now vested in the Japanese people.
Actual governance is accomplished through a parliamentary democracy operating under a constitution which took effect on May 3, 1947, a constitution that also includes a Bill of Rights similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Japan does not have a federal system, and its 47 prefectures are not sovereign entities as are states in the United States. Most depend on the central government for subsidies.
The Japanese people enjoy universal adult suffrage with a secret ballot for all elective offices. Governors of prefectures, mayors of municipalities, and prefectural and municipal assembly members are popularly elected for four-year terms.
The Japanese government consists of three branches: an executive branch, a bicameral legislative branch, and an independent judicial branch.
Chief of State Emperor Akihito has ruled as a constitutional monarch since January 7, 1989. Executive power is vested in a cabinet composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who must be members of the legislature, are appointed by the Emperor and designated by the Japanese Diet. The Prime Minister has the power to appoint and remove cabinet ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members.
The Japanese Diet, Kokkai, is a bicameral legislative body comprised of the House of Councilors (Sangi-in) and the House of Representatives, Shugi-in. Every three years, 126 of the 252 seats in the House of Councilors are up for election to six-year terms. Members of the House of Representatives are elected every four years to four-year terms. Under legislation passed in 1994, 300 members of the House of Representatives are elected in single-member districts and another 200 members on proportional slates in 11 regions. These changes also shifted a number of seats from over-represented rural areas to some urban areas.
Japan's legal system is drawn in part from customary law and modeled after European civil law and English-American common law. This branch of government consists of several levels of courts, with the Supreme court as the final judicial review/authority of all legislative acts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the Emperor after designation by the Cabinet. All other justices are appointed by the Cabinet. Japanese courts do not use a jury system, nor are there administrative courts or claims courts. Court decisions are made in accordance with legal statutes. Only Supreme Court decisions have any direct effect on later interpretation of Japanese law.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shinshinto (New Frontier Party, NFP), Japan Communist Party (JCP).
The Shinshinto Party emerged in December 1994 with the merger of the Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), the Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), the Japan New Party (JNP), the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), and several minor groups.
The CIA World Factbook contains the latest information on Japan's Government.
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