The Constitution of Japan
Subtitle: a contextual analysis
By: Shigenori Matsui
Series: Constitutional systems of the world; Constitutional systems of the world
Publisher: Hart Pub.
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Oxford; Portland, Or
Language: eng
Number of pages: 289
ISBN-13: 9781841137926
Subjects: Constitutional law
Description: Japan boasts the second largest economy in the world and almost two thousand years of history. Yet, its first modern constitution, the Meiji Constitution, was not enacted until comparatively recently (1889). Since then, following World War II, Japan adopted its current Constitution, the Japanese Constitution of 1946. This book is designed to explain the outline of Japan's Constitution, together with a number of its unique characteristics and to offer an historical background and context which help explain its significance. Major topics covered include the constitutional history of Japan, fundamental principles of the Constitution, the people and the Emperor, the Diet and legislative power, Cabinet and executive power, and the Judiciary and judicial power. Also discussed is the protection of fundamental human rights, individual rights - including freedom of expression,economic freedoms, and social rights - pacifism and national defence, and the constitutional amendment and reform. Although the Japanese Constitution was enacted under the strong influence of the United States Constitution, many of its features are very different. For instance the existence of an Emperor, the long dominance of a conservative party over the Government, the relatively strong power of government bureaucrats, the absence of a leadership role in the Prime Minister, the small role the judiciary play in solving constitutional disputes and the struggle over national defence. Written in an accessible style and comprehensive in content, the reader will find this account of the constitutional law of Japan both unique and stimulating
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. xxxix-xl) and index.
Table of contents: title: The Constitution : context and history; title: The Constitution, the people and the Emperor; title: The Diet and the legislative power; title: The Cabinet and the executive power; title: The courts and the judicial power; title: The protection of fundamental human rights : structural issues; title: The protection of fundamental human rights : specific rights; title: Pacifism and national defence; title: Constitutional amendment and reforms.