Composition and Powers of the House of Representatives
– The House of Representatives is the lower house of the National Diet of Japan.
– It has 465 members elected for a four-year term.
– 176 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation.
– 289 members are elected from single-member constituencies.
– The overall voting system used is a parallel system, which is a form of semi-proportional representation.
– The House of Representatives can override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority.
– It has the power to pass bills even if they are voted down by the House of Councillors.
– The House of Representatives has more powers compared to the House of Councillors.
– The House of Councillors can only delay passage of certain legislation, such as treaties, the budget, and the selection of the prime minister.
– The House of Representatives is considered the more powerful house.
Right to Vote and Candidature
– Japanese nationals aged 18 years and older have the right to vote.
– Prior to 2016, the voting age in Japan was 20.
– Japanese nationals aged 25 years and older can run for office in the lower house.
– The right to vote and candidature are important aspects of the democratic process.
– These rights allow citizens to participate in the political decision-making of the country.
Differences between the Upper and Lower Houses
– Members of the House of Representatives sit for a maximum of four years, while members of the House of Councillors sit for a full six-year term.
– The lower house can be dissolved by the Prime Minister or the passage of a nonconfidence motion, while the House of Councillors cannot be dissolved.
– The House of Representatives is more sensitive to public opinion and is considered the lower house.
– The House of Representatives has the power to override decisions made by the House of Councillors.
– The House of Councillors can only delay certain legislation, but not block it.
History and Political Developments
– The Japanese parliament, known as the Imperial Diet, was established in 1890.
– The Imperial Diet consisted of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the House of Peers.
– The House of Representatives had the power to force the government into negotiations by voting on and blocking legislation.
– The House of Representatives became the dominant chamber of the National Diet during the late Showa period.
– The postwar constitution was passed in 1947, renaming the Imperial Diet to the National Diet.
– The LDP dominated Japanese politics under the 1955 System.
– Japan entered a lengthy recession in the 1990s, blamed on the LDP.
– The LDP lost power for the first time under the 1955 System in the 1993 election.
– The LDP regained power after the 2012 election.
Recent Elections and Government Policies
– The last election for the House of Representatives was held on October 31, 2021.
– The Liberal Democratic Party won a majority government with 261 seats.
– The governing coalition, including their partner Komeito, holds a total of 293 seats.
– Shinzo Abe stepped down as prime minister in 2020 due to health reasons.
– Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to increase funding for the Japan Self-Defense Forces in 2022.
– The LDP and Komeito formed a two-party government between 2003 and 2009.
– Shinzo Abe, Yukio Hatoyama, Shinzo Abe (2nd term), Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida have all served as prime ministers from the House of Representatives. Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_(Japan)
