THE INSTITUTIONAL

LANDSCAPE OF

JAPANESE POLITICS

by Alisa Gaunder

Three periods of Japanese political system

1945-55 – immediate postwar period;1945-55 – immediate postwar period;

1955-93 – “1955 system”;1955-93 – “1955 system”;

1994 – present – post-political reform period.1994 – present – post-political reform period.

The 1955 system was characterized by LDP The 1955 system was characterized by LDP dominance, economic growth and a cohesive and dominance, economic growth and a cohesive and powerful bureaucracy.powerful bureaucracy.

An overview of the institutions that prevailed An overview of the institutions that prevailed under the 1955 system, under the 1955 system,

A description of the political and A description of the political and administrative reforms enacted in the 1990s administrative reforms enacted in the 1990s and a brief discussion how these reforms have and a brief discussion how these reforms have influenced politicians, political parties, the influenced politicians, political parties, the prime minister, the bureaucracy and the prime minister, the bureaucracy and the policymaking process. policymaking process.

OUTLINE• The institutions of the “1955 system”The institutions of the “1955 system”

The Diet;The Diet;

The prime minister;The prime minister;

The electoral system;The electoral system;

Political parties;Political parties;

Political funding and electioneering;Political funding and electioneering;

• Political reform in the 1990s;Political reform in the 1990s;

• The effect of political reform The effect of political reform

The Diet

National Diet – Japanese legislative body;National Diet – Japanese legislative body;

Article 41 of the constitution – the Diet “shall Article 41 of the constitution – the Diet “shall be the highest organ of state power, and shall be the highest organ of state power, and shall be be the sole law-making organ of the State”. be be the sole law-making organ of the State”.

The Diet

House of Representatives

House of Councillors

4 year term, more frequently serves less

than four years

6 year term, with half members elected every

three years

Ultimate control of the passage of the budget, the

ratification of treaties and the selection of the prime

minister

After 1989 to block regular legislation outside the budget and treaties

The prime minister

Formal powers: The head of the cabinet, has the Formal powers: The head of the cabinet, has the power to appoint and dismiss the cabinet power to appoint and dismiss the cabinet ministers, is granted the support of the cabinet ministers, is granted the support of the cabinet secretariat, and has the power to dissolve the secretariat, and has the power to dissolve the Lower House of the Diet and call for new elections.Lower House of the Diet and call for new elections.

Informal powers, including the prime minister`s Informal powers, including the prime minister`s support base in the party, popularity, influence support base in the party, popularity, influence over the bureaucracy, ties to the opposition over the bureaucracy, ties to the opposition parties, and experience.parties, and experience.

The electoral system

1955 system – the electoral system for Lower 1955 system – the electoral system for Lower House was a multiple-member district system House was a multiple-member district system with a single nontransferable vote (MMD/SNTV) – with a single nontransferable vote (MMD/SNTV) – multipartyism with one dominant party, the LDP.multipartyism with one dominant party, the LDP.

The disadvantages - made it more difficult for The disadvantages - made it more difficult for parties to run the “right” number of candidates parties to run the “right” number of candidates and divide the vote equally among them => and divide the vote equally among them => over- nomination and under-nomination.over- nomination and under-nomination.

1983 – from MMD/SNTV to proportional representation (PR) list => to make the contests more party-centered, but increased competition for party list ranking.

2000 – from PR to an open list system which allows voters to select either or party or individual candidate in the PR ballot.

Political funding and electioneering

1955 system(1990)

A limited number of television A limited number of television and radio appearance, a and radio appearance, a certain number of handbills certain number of handbills and posters, internet is a and posters, internet is a medium accommodated by medium accommodated by the governmentthe government

Policy forced the voter to rely Policy forced the voter to rely on web information from on web information from unofficial sources.unofficial sources.

1975 - the revision of PFCL (Political Funds Control)

Created an upper limit on Created an upper limit on contributions from contributions from corporationscorporations

Amount of corporations and Amount of corporations and individual contributions were individual contributions were restricted, but the number of restricted, but the number of political organizations that political organizations that could receive donations was could receive donations was not. not.

Political parties

1950-60 – one and half party system;1950-60 – one and half party system;

1970 – one party system with multipartyism; 1970 – one party system with multipartyism;

1990 – electoral reform1990 – electoral reform

LDP ( Liberal Democratic Party) – is the conservative party, less ideologically driven. Main goal - to stay in power.Support base (1955) – farmers and rural communities, industry/corporate Japan, small business, construction and self-employed.One of the main reasons the LDP was able to stay in power from 1955-93 was its ability to adjust its policies in response to new economic and politic realities, “crisis and compensation” strategy. JSP (Japan Socialist Party) – was the progressive party on the left with strong ties to public sector union. Support base – public service labor unions, small business, professionals, intellectuals and farmers. DSP (1960) – exclusive worker support and creating a broader base.Main support – private sector. Dissolved in 1994. The Komeito or CGP – political arm of Buddhist lay organization, to promote “cleaner”, less corrupt politics. Supported world peace, humanitarian socialism, progressive taxes and the nationalization of key industries. Base – women, youth and underclass. JSP – most ideological party, extreme left informed by Marxism-Leninism. Base – women, youth, doctors, lawyers, nontraditional supporters of Communist parties.

Political reform in the 1990s

Electoral system and political funding reform – revision to Electoral system and political funding reform – revision to the Public Office Election Law replaced the MMD/SNTV the Public Office Election Law replaced the MMD/SNTV system with a combined single-member district (SMD) system with a combined single-member district (SMD) and proportional representation (PR) system;and proportional representation (PR) system;

Diet related administrative reform – 1) eliminated the Diet related administrative reform – 1) eliminated the government committee member system, 2) created government committee member system, 2) created senior vice-ministers and parliamentary secretaries;senior vice-ministers and parliamentary secretaries;

Central government reforms – to increase the efficiency, Central government reforms – to increase the efficiency, accountability and transparency of government agencies. accountability and transparency of government agencies.

The effects of political reform

weaken incentives for pork barrel politics;the reduction of money politics and corruption;combined electoral system allowed new party arrangements;changes in the internal organization of parties;the cabinet reform have increased the potential influence of prime minister;the Diet-related reforms increased the power of politicians vis-à-vis bureaucrats;reduced the role of bureaucrats

Thank you for attention!