Constitution of Japan

The Constitution of Japan has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947. The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights. Under its terms the Emperor of Japan is the de facto head of state but exercises a purely ceremonial role. The constitution is perhaps most famous for the renunciation of the right to wage war contained in Article 9.

Related Topics:
Japan - 1947 - Parliamentary system - Emperor of Japan - Head of state - Article 9

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The constitution was drawn up under the Allied occupation that followed World War II and was intended to replace Japan's previous imperial system with a form of liberal democracy. It is a rigid document and no subsequent amendment has been made to it since its adoption. Prior to 1947 the country was governed under the Meiji Constitution, known formally as the 'Constitution of the Empire of Japan'.

Related Topics:
Allied occupation - World War II - Liberal democracy - Meiji Constitution

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