Janapese Legislature (Diet)Janapese Legislature (Diet) Bicameral SystemBicameral System

– Upper House is the House of Councillors, comprising Upper House is the House of Councillors, comprising appointed members, like the UK's House of Lordsappointed members, like the UK's House of Lords

– lower house is the House of Representatives, comprising lower house is the House of Representatives, comprising of elected membersof elected members

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives– tabling and passing billstabling and passing bills– More powerful than House of CouncillorsMore powerful than House of Councillors– If a bill is passed by the H/R, but is not by the H/C, the If a bill is passed by the H/R, but is not by the H/C, the

H/R can override the decision of the other chamber by a H/R can override the decision of the other chamber by a two-thirds vote. In the case of treaties, the budget, and two-thirds vote. In the case of treaties, the budget, and the selection of the prime minister, however, the House the selection of the prime minister, however, the House of Councillors can only delay passage, but not block the of Councillors can only delay passage, but not block the legislation. legislation.

Janapese DietJanapese Diet House of CouncillorsHouse of Councillors 480 members, 4-year 480 members, 4-year

termsterms– 180 are elected from 11 180 are elected from 11

multi-member multi-member constituencies by constituencies by proportional proportional representationrepresentation

– 300 are elected from 300 are elected from single-member single-member constituencies.constituencies.

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives Lower house, but more Lower house, but more

powerfulpowerful 121 members total, 6-year 121 members total, 6-year

termsterms– 73 are elected from the 73 are elected from the

47 prefectural districts 47 prefectural districts – 48 are elected from a 48 are elected from a

nationwide list by nationwide list by proportional proportional representation.representation.

– 6-year terms6-year terms

エグゼクティブエグゼクティブ (Executive)(Executive)

Reports to the Diet (legislature).Reports to the Diet (legislature). Prime MinisterPrime Minister

– chief of executive, appointed by emperor as directed by chief of executive, appointed by emperor as directed by the Dietthe Diet

– Must be a member of either house of the Diet and a Must be a member of either house of the Diet and a civilian.civilian.

The The Cabinet, which he organizes, must also be , which he organizes, must also be civilian. The Constitution states that the majority civilian. The Constitution states that the majority of the Cabinet must be elected members of either of the Cabinet must be elected members of either house of the Diet, the precise wording leaving an house of the Diet, the precise wording leaving an opportunity to appoint non-elected officials.opportunity to appoint non-elected officials.

人口統計学人口統計学 ((Demographics!!)Demographics!!)

PopulationPopulation: around 128 million: around 128 million AreaArea: 377,835 sq km : 377,835 sq km Age Structure:Age Structure:

– 0-14 14.64%0-14 14.64%– 15-64 67.83%15-64 67.83%– 65 and up 17.53%65 and up 17.53%

Life Expectancy: Life Expectancy: 80.8 years80.8 years– 77.62 males77.62 males– 84.15 women84.15 women

Birth rate:Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population 10.04 births/1,000 population LiteracyLiteracy: 99%: 99% Nationality:Nationality: Japanese Japanese Ethnic groups: Ethnic groups: Japanese 99.4% Japanese 99.4%

– Korean 0.6%Korean 0.6% Religions: Religions: Shinto & Buddhist 84%Shinto & Buddhist 84%

– Other 16% (Christian 0.7%)Other 16% (Christian 0.7%) National HolidayNational Holiday: Birthday of Emperor Akihito, December 23: Birthday of Emperor Akihito, December 23 CapitalCapital: Tokyo: Tokyo IndependenceIndependence: 660 B.C.E.: 660 B.C.E. Government TypeGovernment Type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary : constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary

governmentgovernment CurrencyCurrency: Yen: Yen GDP (PPP)GDP (PPP): 4.220 trillion: 4.220 trillion

裁判 裁判 !!!! (Judiciary)(Judiciary) CourtsCourts

– Supreme CourtSupreme Court– 8 high courts8 high courts– 50 district courts50 district courts– 50 family courts50 family courts– 438 summary courts438 summary courts

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the cabinet Supreme Court judges are appointed by the cabinet and subject to approval of the people at the time of the and subject to approval of the people at the time of the next general election & every 10 years after.next general election & every 10 years after.

Chief Judge of Supreme Court is “designated” by the Chief Judge of Supreme Court is “designated” by the cabinet and “appointed” by the emperor.cabinet and “appointed” by the emperor.

Courts have judicial review but rather reluctant to Courts have judicial review but rather reluctant to strike down legislationstrike down legislation

Six CodesSix Codes: six main legal codes and thus the main : six main legal codes and thus the main body of Japanese statutory law in Japan. body of Japanese statutory law in Japan.

Political Political Culture Culture

in in JapanJapan

High voter turnoutHigh voter turnoutVery politically awareVery politically awareUrban citizens more politically Urban citizens more politically aware then rural citizensaware then rural citizensRural citizens are more active Rural citizens are more active and participate more in politics and participate more in politics then urban citizensthen urban citizensMore likely to participate with More likely to participate with abstract means then concreteabstract means then concreteHigh efficacy but low optimism High efficacy but low optimism and satisfactionand satisfactionMore involved in local affairsMore involved in local affairsPeople vote based on a People vote based on a candidate’s qualitiescandidate’s qualitiesPersonal connections are Personal connections are instrumental in electionsinstrumental in elections

私は日本語を話す

日本の歴史(Japanese History)Late History

1600s-Current

The Edo Period: 1603-1867

•1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu brings Japan under his rule. First of the Tokugawa dynasty of Shoguns. Ruled Japan for 250 Years. Sets up Capitol in Edo (modern Day Tokyo)•1636 Christianity Banned, Edo’s Population 1 Million. Largest city in the world at that time. Japan Adopts policy of isolation and closes borders and ports.Imperial Restoration•Changes in the economy during the Tokugawa period wrought hardship on many of the Samurai and Peasants. •Ideas of the divine origin of state and the Imperial Dynasty led to the idea that the Emperor should be restored to his rightful positions above the Soguns.•1853 Commodore Mathew Perry brings message from the U.S to order Japan to open its borders. Russo-Japanese WarNew conflicts of interests in Korea and Manchuria, this time between Russia and Japan, led to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05. The Japanese army also won this war gaining territory and finally some international respect. Japan further increased her influence on Korea and annexed her completely in 1910. In Japan, the war successes caused nationalism to increase even more, and other Asian nations also started to develop national self confidence.

The early twentieth century saw a brief period of "Taisho democracy" overshadowed by the rise of Japanese expansionism and militarization. World War I enabled Japan, which joined the side of the victorious Allies, to expand its influence and territorial holdings. Japan continued its expansionist policy by occupying Manchuria in 1931. As a result of international condemnation for this occupation, Japan resigned from the League of Nations two years later. In 1936, Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Nazi Germany, joining the Axis Powers in 1941.

Pre WWII

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This act brought the United States into World War II. After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, along with the Soviet Union joining the war against it, Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender on August 15 (V-J Day).[20] The war cost Japan millions of lives and left much of the country's industry and infrastructure destroyed

世界大戦 2

•Population of 127,463,611 (July 2006 est.)

•Age structure:

•0-14 years: 14.2%

•15-64 years: 65.7%

•65 years and over: 20%

•Birth rate: 9.37 births/1,000 population

•Death rate: 9.16 deaths/1,000 population

•Infant mortality Rate: 3.24 deaths/ 1,000 live births

•Life expectancy: Male:78 years Female:85 years

•Religion: 84% observe both Shinto and Buddhist. 16% other minorities such as Christian (.7%)

•Literacy rate: Total Population: 99% Male:99% Female:99%

•Japan has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of democracy rather than a presidential system.

•Chief Executive (Prime Minister) is elected by the legislature, not the people.

•Chief Executive has power to dissolve the House of Representatives and bring about an election for new members.

•Two principal political issues are constitutional revision and electoral reform. Even though the text of the Japanese constitution has not once been altered, proposals for amendments have been constantly at the fore.

•Japan does not have a permanent seat in UN Security Council.

•Has two houses of Parliament (the Diet).

•Emperor serves has head of state, and Chief Executive serves as head of government.

•House of Councillors or Sangi-in

•242 seats. Members elected for six year terms; half reelected every three years.

•146 members in multi-seat constituencies.

•96 by proportional representation.

•House of Representatives of Shugi-in.

•480 seats. Members elected for four year terms.

•300 members in single seat constituencies.

•180 members by proportional representation.

•11 members by regional blocs.

•Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshū-tō, or Jimin-tō

•Largest political party in Japan.

•Current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a member of LDP.

•Is a conservative party (ew).

•Has been in power almost continuously since 1955.

•Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshūtō

•Second largest party and leads opposition.

•It is a social liberal party (yay!).

•Was formed in the late 1990s.

•Lead by Ichiro Ozawa.

•Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsan-tō

•Formed in 1922.

•Fourth largest party in Japan.

•Moderate communist party with a left-wing leaning.

•It supports multi-party democracy and does not advocate the imposition of radical change on Japanese society.

• Other Parties!

•New Clean Government Party Komeitō (conservative, theocratic, Buddhist, 1998-)

•Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshūtō, or Shamin-tō (socialist, 1996-)

Learning Objectives Learning Objectives After studying this chapter, students should be able toAfter studying this chapter, students should be able to describe the significant relationships between Japan’s economy describe the significant relationships between Japan’s economy

and its governing partiesand its governing parties identify “new” groups within Japanese society that are identify “new” groups within Japanese society that are

contending for power, influence, and rightscontending for power, influence, and rights outline arguments for and against the assertion that Japan’s outline arguments for and against the assertion that Japan’s

political system is democraticpolitical system is democratic describe the roles of “groupism” and “individualism” in describe the roles of “groupism” and “individualism” in

Japanese political cultureJapanese political culture identify factors that helped make the LDP Japan’s dominant identify factors that helped make the LDP Japan’s dominant

political partypolitical party describe Japan’s parliamentary electoral systemdescribe Japan’s parliamentary electoral system explain the components of Japan’s “iron triangle”explain the components of Japan’s “iron triangle” describe the relationships among the 3 groups constituting the describe the relationships among the 3 groups constituting the

“iron triangle”“iron triangle” explain how the operation of the “iron triangle” facilitated the explain how the operation of the “iron triangle” facilitated the

economic growth before 1990economic growth before 1990 identify the reasons why the “iron triangle” has been less identify the reasons why the “iron triangle” has been less

successful in promoting economic success in the past two successful in promoting economic success in the past two decadesdecades