Japan: Difference between revisions

{{wikisource|Constitution of Japan}}

The '''Government of [[Japan]]''' consists of [[legislative]], [[executive (government)|executive]] and [[judiciary]] branches and is based on [[popular sovereignty]]. The Government runs under the framework established by the [[Constitution of Japan]], adopted in 1947. It is a [[unitary state]], containing forty-seven [[Administrative divisions of Japan|administrative divisions]], with the Emperor as its [[Head of State]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The World Factbook Japan|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/japan/|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> His role is ceremonial and he has no powers related to Government.<ref>{{cite constitution|article=4(1)|section=1|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Instead, it is the [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet]], comprising the [[Ministers of State]] and the [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]], that directs and controls the Government and the [[Civil service of Japan|civil service]]. The Cabinet has the [[executive power]] and is formed by the Prime Minister, who is the [[Head of Government]].<ref name="ExecPower">{{cite constitution|article=65|section=5|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="PMCabinet">{{cite constitution|article=68(1)|section=5|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> The Prime Minister is nominated by the [[National Diet]] and [[Imperial Investiture|appointed]] to office by the Emperor.<ref name="PMDiet">{{cite constitution|article=67(1)|section=5|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Emperor PM">{{cite constitution|article=6(1)|section=1|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref>

The National Diet is the [[legislature]], the organ of the Legislative branch. It is [[Bicameralism|bicameral]], consisting of two houses with the [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councilors]] being the [[upper house]], and the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] being the [[lower house]]. Its members are directly elected by the [[people]], who are the source of [[sovereignty]].<ref name="EmperorPeople">{{cite constitution|article=1|section=1|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> It is defined as the supreme organ of sovereignty in the Constitution. The [[Supreme Court of Japan|Supreme Court]] and other inferior courts make up the Judicial branch and have all the judicial powers in the state. It has ultimate judicial authority to interpret the [[Japanese constitution]] and the power of [[judicial review]]. They are [[Judicial independence|independent]] from the executive and the legislative branches.<ref name="JudiIndep">{{cite constitution|article=76(2)|section=6|country=Japan|language=en|ratified=1947|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> [[Judge]]s are nominated or appointed by the Cabinet and never removed by the executive or the legislature except during [[impeachment]].