Malcolm Rivera
The 1889 Meiji Constitution of Japan established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, with the Emperor as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government. The Meiji Constitution was enacted after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which restored direct political power to the Emperor and marked a period of sweeping political and social reform aimed at strengthening Japan to the level of Western nations. The Meiji Constitution provided for a parliamentary system, with the Emperor wielding considerable power over foreign policy and diplomacy, while the Prime Minister and Cabinet were not necessarily chosen from elected members of parliament. The Meiji Constitution recognised civil rights and civil liberties, although these were limited by law, and the struggle between authoritarian and liberal-democratic tendencies dominated the government. The Meiji Constitution was replaced by the `Postwar Constitution' in 1946, which established a Western-style liberal democracy and reduced the Emperor's role to a ceremonial position.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Promulgation | 11 February 1889 |
| Date of Enforcement | 29 November 1890 |
| Type of Government | Mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy |
| Head of State | Emperor of Japan |
| Actual Head of Government | Prime Minister |
| Rights of Sovereignty | Held by the Emperor |
| Legislative Power | Exercised by the Emperor with the consent of the Imperial Diet |
| Expenditure Approval | By the Imperial Diet with the concurrence of the Government |
| Military Power | Supreme command of the army and navy held by the Emperor |
| Civil Rights | Allowed, but subject to limitation by law |
| Voting Rights | Limited, with only 1.1% of the population eligible to vote for the Diet |
| Amendments | None |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Meiji Constitution established a constitutional monarchy
The Meiji Constitution, enacted on February 11, 1889, established a constitutional monarchy in Japan. This form of government was based on the Prusso-German and British models, with the Emperor of Japan as an active ruler and the holder of considerable political power. The Meiji Constitution provided for a mixed system of constitutional and absolute monarchy.
The Meiji Constitution recognised the Emperor as the sacred and inviolable head of state, combining in himself the rights of sovereignty. He exercised legislative power with the consent of the Imperial Diet, a newly formed representative assembly. The Emperor also had the power to declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. Additionally, he conferred titles of nobility and issued imperial ordinances in urgent situations.
In practice, the Prime Minister was the actual head of government. The Meiji Constitution did not require the Prime Minister and their Cabinet to be chosen from the elected members of parliament, and they were not accountable to them. This dynamic led to increasing deference to the Imperial Japanese Army in the lead-up to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The Meiji Constitution also established clear limits on the power of the executive branch. Civil rights and civil liberties were recognised, although they were subject to limitation by law. For example, free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion were restricted. The franchise was also limited, with only 1.1% of the population eligible to vote for the Diet.
The Meiji Constitution was replaced by the "Postwar Constitution" during the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II. This new constitution established a Western-style liberal democracy, reducing the Emperor's role to a ceremonial position as "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".
The Executive Branch: Members and Their Roles
You may want to see also
The Emperor was the head of state
The 1889 Meiji Constitution of Japan established the country as a constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor as the head of state. The constitution was promulgated by Emperor Meiji on 11 February 1889 and came into effect on 29 November 1890, marking a significant shift in Japan's political system.
The Meiji Constitution provided for a mixed form of constitutional and absolute monarchy, modelled after Prussia and Britain. While the Emperor was the head of state, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet held significant power and were the de facto heads of government. The constitution outlined that the Emperor governed with the advice of his ministers, but in practice, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet made key decisions.
As the head of state, the Emperor held several important powers and responsibilities. Firstly, the Emperor was considered "sacred and inviolable," with the right to combine and exercise sovereignty according to the constitution. This included the power to sanction and promulgate laws, as well as the ability to convoke, open, close, and dissolve the Imperial Diet, the new representative assembly.
The Emperor also held supreme command of the army and navy, determining their organisation and peace-time standing. Additionally, the Emperor had the authority to declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. The Emperor could issue imperial ordinances, especially in urgent situations to maintain public safety or avert calamities when the Imperial Diet was not in session.
The Meiji Constitution also established the succession of the imperial throne, stating that it would pass to imperial male descendants according to the Imperial House Law. This law, along with the constitution, was intended to provide a clear guide for the Emperor's descendants and ensure the stability and welfare of the country.
In summary, the 1889 Meiji Constitution established the Emperor as the head of state in Japan, granting him significant powers and responsibilities. While the Prime Minister and his Cabinet held de facto governing power, the Emperor maintained a central role in Japan's political system, with the constitution reinforcing his sacred and inviolable status.
Northwest Ordinance: Forging the US Constitution's Federal Framework
You may want to see also
The Prime Minister was the head of government
The Meiji Constitution, or the 1889 Constitution of Japan, was enacted after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. It established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, modelled after the governments of Prussia, Germany, and Britain. While the Emperor of Japan was the supreme leader and head of state, the Prime Minister was the actual head of government.
The Prime Minister was, in practice, the true leader of Japan during this period. The Meiji Constitution provided that the Prime Minister and their Cabinet were not necessarily chosen from the elected members of parliament. They were not accountable to the elected members of the Imperial Diet, and instead deferred to the Imperial Japanese Army in the lead-up to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The Prime Minister was, in theory, a follower of the Emperor, along with the rest of the Cabinet. The Cabinet was elected by a privy council, and the Emperor wielded considerable political power over foreign policy and diplomacy, which was shared with the elected Imperial Diet. The Diet primarily dictated domestic policy matters.
The Meiji Constitution established clear limits on the power of the executive branch and the Emperor. Civil rights and civil liberties were allowed, although they were subject to limitation by law. Free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion were all limited by laws. The leaders of the government and political parties were left with the task of interpreting whether the Meiji Constitution could be used to justify authoritarian or liberal-democratic rule.
The Meiji Constitution was replaced by the Postwar Constitution, also known as the MacArthur Constitution, in 1946 after World War II. This new constitution was drafted by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and a committee of Japanese scholars. It reduced the Emperor's role to a ceremonial position as "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".
Hand Jobs: Sex or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The constitution provided for civil rights and liberties
The Meiji Constitution, or the 1889 Constitution of Japan, was enacted after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which restored direct political power to the emperor for the first time in over a millennium. The constitution provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, with the emperor as the head of state and the prime minister as the actual head of government.
The Meiji Constitution included provisions for civil rights and liberties, although these were subject to limitation by law. Free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion were all recognised but limited by laws. The leaders of the government and political parties were tasked with interpreting whether the constitution could be used to justify authoritarian or liberal-democratic rule, leading to a struggle between these tendencies that dominated the government.
The Meiji Constitution established a representative assembly, the National Diet of Japan, which primarily dictated domestic policy matters. The Diet also had financial powers, including the ability to approve certain expenditures and establish a reserve fund in the budget. However, the emperor could enact financial measures through an imperial ordinance when the Diet could not be convened due to external or internal conditions threatening public safety.
The Meiji Constitution provided for the succession of the imperial throne by imperial male descendants and established the emperor's inviolability and sovereignty. The emperor held legislative power with the consent of the Diet, giving sanction to laws and ordering their promulgation and execution. The emperor also had the power to convoke, open, close, and prorogue the Diet, as well as dissolve the House of Representatives.
The constitution recognised the emperor's supreme command of the army and navy, including the power to declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. Additionally, the emperor could confer titles of nobility, order amnesty or pardon, and institute a regency to exercise power in his name.
The Complex Nature of Constitutional Isomers' Nomenclature
You may want to see also
The Meiji Constitution was replaced by the Postwar Constitution in 1946
The Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889, provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, based on German and British models. The Emperor of Japan was the head of state and governed the empire with the advice of his ministers. The Meiji Constitution established clear limits on the power of the executive branch and the Emperor, and it created an independent judiciary. Civil rights and civil liberties were permitted, but they were subject to limitation by law. For instance, free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion were limited by laws.
The Meiji Constitution was suspended following Japan's surrender in World War II on September 2, 1945, when the country was deprived of sovereignty by the Allies. During the Allied occupation of Japan, the Meiji Constitution was replaced by the Postwar Constitution on November 3, 1946, which came into force on May 3, 1947. This new constitution replaced imperial rule with a Western-style liberal democracy. The Postwar Constitution was enacted as an amendment to the Meiji Constitution to preserve legal continuity.
The Meiji Constitution was comprised of 76 articles in seven chapters, amounting to around 2,500 words. It was founded on the principle that sovereignty resided in the Emperor, by virtue of his divine ancestry. The Emperor was considered sacred and inviolable, and he held supreme command of the army and navy, with the power to declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. The Meiji Constitution also established the first Parliamentary government in Asia.
The Meiji Restoration in 1868 provided the foundation for the Meiji Constitution, restoring imperial rule to Japan and consolidating the political system under the Emperor. This led to sweeping political and social reforms, including the abolition of the shogunate and industrialisation, as Japan sought to strengthen itself to the level of Western nations. The Meiji Restoration also resulted in the reorganisation of society, with the abolition of the old currency, the domain system, and the class position of the samurai.
The Constitution's Ratification: A Historical Turning Point
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The 1889 Meiji Constitution provided for a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, based on the German and British models. The Emperor was the supreme leader and head of state, but the Prime Minister was the actual head of government.
Civil rights and civil liberties were allowed, but they were subject to limitation by law. Free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion were all limited by laws. Franchise was also limited, with only 1.1% of the population eligible to vote for the Diet.
The Meiji Constitution established clear limits on the power of the executive branch and the Emperor. It also resulted in the opening of the first Parliamentary government in Asia.
