OurMachida City Assembly

Bureau of Machida City Assembly
Located at 2-2-22 Morino, Machida city Tokyo 194-8520
TEL:042 724 2171/2550
FAX: 050 3161 7663

What is City Assembly?
It is the place where members of the assembly elected by local people gather
to discuss and decide on what to be done to make people’s lives in the citysafer and better.
What is the number of assembly members?
36 members in accordance with the regulation of Machida city

How is the assembly run?
A plenary session is attended by all members.
⇒A committee meeting is held by four groups of 9 members each

How the members are elected?
They are elected once every four years
Over 25 years old are qualified to run for an election.
Over 18 years old are qualified for an elector

Page 1Role and responsibility of Machida city
Assembly has various tasks and duties to execute.
Main ones are as follows;①To make regulations and rules of the city
②To draw up the budget which is needed for the city to fulfill its duties aswell as closing account to check up if such a budget is spent properly③To make sure that the all tasks are done for the benefit of the local people.
④To submit the requests to the metropolitan government of Tokyo and theNational Government⑤To obtain the member’s consent as to personnel of the important post suchas a deputy mayor.(agreement)

Request from us, citizens in MachidaWe, citizens are able to submit our requests to the city as to what we would
want the metropolitan government and the national government to do for us.
(request /petition)
Members of assembly will meet us in person, listen to us and discuss theagenda risen among them. Upon our request is accepted (approval) it willreflect on the administration of the city or be submitted to the nationalgovernment or the metropolitan government of Tokyo.

Page 2

Introduction to Assembly Hall
①Chairman’s seat
Chairman to speak as a MC from this seat. The seat is positioned higher than the others
so that a chairman can overlook the whole room
Chairman is elected out of the members of assembly and represent the assembly.
He plays an important role in the assembly.
②Presenter’s seat
City officers including the mayor to be seated to answer to the assembly members’questions③Seats for the assembly members
They may ask questions or present their opinions④Public gallery
For the visitors. Visitors should stay quiet here during the assembly.
⑤Podium
From this spot questions are asked⑥Bureau of assembly
Officials in charge of administration of the assembly
Secretary General to be seated next to the chairman

Page 3

System of Assembly (how to run the regular assembly)
To be held four times a year (mostly in March, June, September, December) (RegularAssembly)
A meeting which is held in case of emergency is called the extraordinary meeting
Plenary meeting (all members gather)
1. Opening ceremony – Commencement of the regular assembly
2. Briefing on the subjects of the meeting. Mayor to explain what has to be done to make the people’s
life better (a bill) to the assembly members
3. Questions/Answers
Assembly members to ask questions and make sure of their understandings (questions and answers)↓Committee
5. Reference of the bills
To refer the bills to four groups (the committee) (making the reference)
The bills are discussed at the each committee↓Plenary Meeting
6. Report by Chairman
Chairman to report the content of discussions at the committee meeting
7. Questions and answers
Questions as to the content of the chairman’s report
8. Members to state their opinions whether they are for or against the bill
9. Voting on the bill
To decide whether they are for or against (decision)
10. Ending ceremony
To end the meeting

Page 4

Roles and responsibilities of the Committee
City allocates the overall tasks into four categories. The standing committee is the organization todiscuss the ideas (a bill) how to make people’s life better. City also holds the operation committee.
General Affair Standing Committee:
To discuss the tasks of Policy Management Department where a plan and a goal of the city are set,
General Affair department where document and information of the city are monitored as well as
Economy and Tourism Department
Health and Welfare Committee:
To discuss the tasks of Regional Welfare department where health, welfare and medical care of thelocal residents are managed, and of Vibrant Living department as well as Public Health center
Education and Society Standing Committee:
To discuss the tasks of Disaster Prevention & Security department and Citizens department that are toprevent the people from disaster, Educational Committee, Sports and Culture department and the Kids
Life department.
Construction Standing Committee:
To discuss the tasks of Natural Environmental and Resource department such as protection of naturalenvironment by eliminating wastes and of Town Planning department to make a pleasant living
environment, Road department and Sewage System Department

Assembly Operation Committee:
Decide on the process of the assembly and its rules

Special Committee:
In the event that the extraordinary issue took place or any issue emerged that should be discussed at the several
committees, Special committee will be set up.
For example, how to improve the city assembly is discussed.

Page 5

General Interpellation
Apart from decision making on the bill, each one of assembly members is allowed to ask any question about the overall
work and the city affairs or make suggestions. This is a general interpellation.
For example;All of issues are familiar with us such as a noise problem caused by the jet plane, subsidies for medical costs, current
situation of the after-school child day care and so on

Page 6

Welcome to visit the assembly!
Anyone can come and see and listen to what they are talking about in the city assembly.
*Kids and babies are welcomed. (a space for parents and kids is available)*Wheel chair space is available*Guide dog and service dog can be accompanied*You can request a sign language interpreter
We look forward to have your educational field trip here!
Please file your application for it.
Photos:(Left top) reception, (Right top) Voting button,(Left middle) observers seats, (Right middle) Parents and kids seats(Bottom left) Garden on the 3rd floor, (Bottom center and right) Flower garden on the 4th floor<Contact information for enquiry>
2-2-22 Morino Machida city 194-8520 Tokyo Japan
Bureau of Machida City Assembly
TEL:042-724-2171/2550

Fax: 050 3161 7663

HP: http://www.gikai-machida.jp/