political institution

Government

- Constitutional monarchy

(Japan Government Profile 2013, 2013)

Emperor:• Imperial Head• Ceremonial figurehead• Symbolism

Duties:•Receiving•Awarding•Appointing(The Government of Modern Japan: The Branches and Their

Functions, 2009)

Emperor Akihiko

The Executive Branch

Cabinet

•Prime Minister

•Members of the Cabinet

Prime Minister

• Head of Government

Functions:• Head• Presides• Appoint and Dismiss• Control and guide

(Governmental Structure, n. d.)

Shinzo Abe

Cabinet Members

•Diet member

•Appointed

Cabinet Powers

•Implementing•Engaging•Signing•Overseeing

• Formulating and submitting • Enacting• Deciding

Also: Naming the Chief Justice of the SC and appointing other Judges.

(The Statistical Handbook of Japan 2012, n. d. )

The Legislative Branch

Kokkai or Diet

• Bicameral• Highest branch of state power • “sole law-making organ of the

state”

Responsibility:• Enact legislation

Powers: • Initiating• Settling• Approving• Selecting

3 Categories of Diet Sessions:

• Ordinary• Extraordinary• Special

(Governmental Structure, n. d.)

Chambers:

•House of Councillors

•House of Representatives

Sangi-in or House of Councillors

• The Upper House• 242 seats• 6-year term • Cannot be dissolved• Can reject bills

Shugi-in or House of the Representative

•Lower house•More powerful•480 seats•Four year term•Can be dissolved

(Governmental Structure, n. d.)(Politics in Japan: The Political System, n. d.)

The Judiciary Branch

Supreme Court

• Highest court

•Chief Justice• 14 other judges

Duties:-to determine the

constitutionality of laws and all its decision is final.

Court System:- 3- trial System

Four Types of Lower-level Court:• High courts (8)• District Courts (50)• Family Courts (50)• Summary Courts (438)

(Governmental Structure, n. d.)(The Government of Modern Japan: The Branches and Their

Functions, 2009)

Reference:

Governmental structure. (n.d.). Japan Fact Sheet. Retrieved July 30, 2013 from http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/e08_governmental.pdf

Japan government profile 2013. (2013). Retrieved August 12 from http://www.indexmundi.com/japan/government_profile.html

Politics in Japan: the political system. (n. d.) Retrieved July 30, 2013 from http://hhh.gavilan.edu/mturetzky/Pols3/Lecture6TheJapanesePoliticalSystem.htm

The Government of Modern Japan: The Branches and Their Functions. (2009). Asia for Educators. Retrieved July 30, 2013 from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1950_govt.htm

The Statistical Handbook of Japan 2012 (n. d.). Retrieved August 2, 2013 from http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/index.htm