Meiji Constitution

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan（大日本帝國憲法）, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 1889 until 1947. Enacted as part of the Meiji Renewal, it provided for a form of constitutional monarchy based on the Prussian model, in which the Emperor of Japan was an active ruler and wielded considerable political power, but shared this with an elected diet. In 1947, following Japan's defeat and occupation at the end of the Second World War, the Meiji Constitution was replaced by a new document, called simply the 'Constitution of Japan', which attempted to replace the imperial system with a form of Western-style liberal democracy.

Main provisions

Structure

The Meiji Constitution consists of 76 articles in seven chapters, together amounting to around 2,500 words. It is also usually reproduced with its Preamble, the Imperial Oath Sworn in the Sanctuary in the Imperial Palace, and the Imperial Rescript on the Promulgation of the Constitution, which together come to nearly another 1,000 words. The seven chapters are:

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• I. The Emperor (1-17)
• II. Rights and Duties of Subjects (18-32)
• III. The Imperial Diet (33-54)
• IV. The Ministers of State and the Privy Council (55-56)
• V. The Judicature (57-61)
• VI. Finance (62-72)
• VII. Supplementary Rules (73-76)

Emperor sovereignty

Unlike its modern successor, the Meiji Constitution was founded on the principle that sovereignty resided in the Emperor, by virtue of his divine ancestry "unbroken for ages eternal", rather than the ordinary people. Article 4 states that the "Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty". The Emperor, nominally at least, united within himself all three branches of government. Under the constitution, he wielded both executive and legislative power, albeit that the latter was subject to the "consent of the Imperial Diet", and under Article 57 justice was administered by the courts "in the name of the Emperor".

Related Topics:
Executive - Legislative

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Separate provisions of the constitution contradict one another as to whether it is the Emperor or the constitution that is to be supreme. While Article 4 binds the Emperor to exercise his powers "according to the provisions of the present Constitution", Article 3 declares him to be "sacred and inviolable", a formula which was construed by hard-line monarchists to mean that he retained the right to overthrow the constitution, or to violate its provisions.

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Rights and Duties of Subjects

• Duties: The constitution asserts the duty of Japanese subjects to uphold the constitution (preamble), pay taxes (Article 21) and serve in the armed forces if conscripted (Article 20).
• Qualified rights: The constitution provides for a number of rights that subjects may enjoy only where the law does not provide otherwise. These included the right to:
• Freedom of movement (Article 22).
• Not have one's house searched or entered (Article 25).
• Privacy of correspondence (Article 26).
• Private property (Article 27).
• Freedom of speech, assembly and association (Article 29).
• Less conditional rights
• Right to "be appointed to civil or military or any other public offices equally" (Article 19).
• 'Procedural' due process (Article 23).
• Right to trial before a judge (Article 24).
• Freedom of religion (Guaranteed by Article 28 "within limits not prejudicial to peace and order, and not antagonistic to their duties as subjects").
• Right to petition government (Article 30).

Organs of government

Under the constitution, the Emperor of Japan had the right to exercise executive authority, and to appoint and dismiss all civil officers. Legislative authority was shared with the Diet, and both the Emperor and the Diet had to agree in order for a measure to become law. However the Emperor could conclude treaties and declare war without the Diet's consent. Also, although the Diet had a veto over the budget, if the Emperor and the legislature could not agree on a budget, then the previous year's budget would continue in force. The constitution provided for a cabinet consisting of Ministers of State who answered to the Emperor rather than the Diet. Under its terms, the role of ministers was merely to advise the emperor, but in practice they were granted considerable political power. The constitution granted the state broad authority to establish a judicial system by law. Despite the powerful position given to the Emperor by the constitution, in practice the Genro, an inner circle of advisors to the Emperor not mentioned in the constitution, wielded considerable influence.

Related Topics:
Judicial system - Genro

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