National Diet

Japan has a special group of leaders.

They make the rules for the land.

This group is called the Diet. It has two parts. One part is the lower house. The other is the upper house.

People in Japan vote to pick them. Any person 18 or older can vote. This helps the people have a say.

The Diet picks the leader of the land. This leader is the Prime Minister. They also decide how to spend money.

These leaders work hard for the country. It is a very big job.

The National Diet is the group that makes laws in Japan.

It has two parts. The first is the House of Representatives. This is the lower house. The second is the House of Councillors. This is the upper house. The lower house is more powerful. It helps pick the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the leader of the government.

This group began a long time ago. In 1890, it was called the Imperial Diet. Back then, the Emperor held much power. In 1947, Japan got a new constitution. This changed the Diet into its current form. Now, the Diet is the highest power in the land.

People in Japan vote for these leaders. Any citizen 18 or older can vote. They use a secret ballot. This means no one knows who you pick. Voters cast two votes. One vote is for a person. The other vote is for a political party.

Members of the Diet have big jobs. They must pass laws and approve the budget. The budget is a plan for spending money. They also check on the work of the government. They can even ask judges to leave if they break the law.

The National Diet is the main group that makes laws in Japan. It is known as the highest organ of state power. This group is made of two parts called houses. The first is the House of Representatives, which is the lower house. The second is the House of Councillors, which is the upper house. Both houses meet in Nagatachō, located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Diet does more than just pass laws. It also picks the Prime Minister and approves the national budget.

Members of the Diet are chosen through a special voting system. This is called a parallel voting system. In an election, people cast two different votes. One vote is for a specific person in their area. The other vote is for a political party list. Any Japanese citizen who is at least 18 years old can vote. This age was lowered from 20 years old in 2016. The law says voting must be secret and fair to everyone. It cannot discriminate based on race, sex, or how much money a person has.

The history of this group began a long time ago. In 1890, it was first called the Imperial Diet. It was created under the Meiji Constitution. Back then, the Emperor held much of the legislative power. The first Diet faced many arguments about military spending. In 1947, Japan adopted a new constitution after the war. This changed the group into the National Diet we know today. This new version made the Diet the sole law-making organ of the state.

There are many specific rules for being a member. To run for the lower house, you must be 25 or older. For the upper house, you must be 30 or older. Members are paid about ¥1.3 million every month. They can also hire three secretaries with taxpayer money. They even get free Shinkansen train tickets to travel home. The House of Representatives is much stronger than the upper house. For example, it can overrule the upper house on certain bills.

Understanding the Diet helps you understand how Japan works. It connects to how people participate in their own government. The Diet can even start changes to the Constitution. If they do, the people must vote on it in a referendum. The Diet also watches over the government to make sure it follows the rules. It can even investigate the government or impeach judges. This ensures that the people's choices are respected through the law.

The National Diet is the central legislative body of Japan. It serves as the nation's highest organ of state power. Under the Constitution of Japan, it is the sole organ for making laws. The Diet consists of two distinct chambers. The first is the House of Representatives, known as the Shūgiin. The second is the House of Councillors, called the Sangiin. These two houses meet in the Nagatachō district of Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Both houses use a parallel voting system to select members. This means voters cast two separate ballots during an election. One vote is for an individual candidate in a specific constituency. The second vote is for a political party list. Any Japanese national aged 18 or older may vote. This voting age was lowered from 20 in 2016. The Constitution guarantees universal adult suffrage and secret ballots. It also forbids discrimination based on race, sex, or social status.

The Diet has several critical responsibilities beyond passing laws. It must approve the annual national budget submitted by the government. It also handles the ratification of international treaties. The Diet is responsible for nominating the Prime Minister through a formal resolution. This process establishes legislative supremacy over the executive branch. Furthermore, the Diet can initiate amendments to the Constitution. If such changes are approved, they must be decided by the people in a referendum. The Diet also has the power to investigate the government and impeach judges.

There is a significant difference in power between the two houses. The House of Representatives is the more powerful chamber. While the House of Councillors can delay some actions, it has little power over the Prime Minister. If the House of Representatives passes a bill and the upper house rejects it, the lower house can overrule them. This requires a two-thirds majority vote of the members present. If the houses cannot agree on a budget or a treaty, the decision of the lower house is deemed the final decision. The House of Representatives can also dissolve the government through a motion of no confidence.

The history of Japan's legislature began with the Imperial Diet in 1890. This was established under the Meiji Constitution. During that era, the Emperor exercised legislative power with the Diet's consent. The first Imperial Diet faced intense political tensions. For example, Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo clashed with the Diet over military funding. Many critics argued for infrastructure and lower taxes instead of high military spending. The current National Diet took its modern form in 1947. This happened following the adoption of the post-war constitution.

Specific rules govern who can serve in the Diet. Candidates for the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old. Candidates for the House of Councillors must be at least 30 years old. All members must be Japanese nationals. Members receive a monthly salary of approximately ¥1.3 million. They are also entitled to employ three secretaries using taxpayer funds. To help them travel to their home districts, they receive free Shinkansen tickets and four round-trip airplane tickets each month.

Issues regarding representation and population shifts remain important. Because people moved to cities, some areas have more people than others. This can lead to malapportionment, where some votes carry more weight than others. In the 2022 election, the malapportionment ratio was 3.03 for the House of Councillors. For the 2024 House of Representatives election, the ratio was 2.06. The Supreme Court of Japan began reviewing these laws after a 1976 decision. This decision invalidated an election where one district had five times the representation of another.

The legislative process often begins with the Cabinet. Most bills are drafted by relevant government ministries. These ministries may consult advisory committees. These committees can include university professors, industry representatives, and local mayors. Once a bill is drafted, it goes to the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the ruling party. This complex system ensures that many different perspectives are considered before a law is finalized. After both houses pass a bill, the Emperor promulgates it to make it official.