Isabella Carter
The Meiji Constitution was the constitution of the Empire of Japan, proclaimed in 1889 and in force from 1890 until 1947. It was enacted after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which aimed to restore governing power to the emperor and establish a centralised government. The Meiji Constitution provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, with the emperor as head of state and the prime minister as the actual head of government. The Meiji Constitution had a significant impact on Japan's future, influencing its political and social landscape. It provided a framework for the country's governance, balancing power between the emperor and parliament. However, it was also criticised for its ambiguities and for enabling undemocratic political behaviours. The Meiji Constitution's legacy extended beyond Japan, as the country's modernisation based on Western models influenced its self-identity and relations with its Asian neighbours.
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What You'll Learn
- The Meiji Constitution established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy
- It was influenced by the German and British models
- The Meiji emperor was granted supreme control of the army and navy
- It was replaced by a U.S.-approved constitution after World War II
- The Meiji Constitution influenced Japanese self-identity with respect to its Asian neighbours
The Meiji Constitution established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy
The Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889, established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy in Japan. The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, laid the foundation for the institutions of Imperial Japan and marked the country's modernisation and emergence as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect. The Meiji Constitution was the culmination of this process, providing a framework for governance that balanced power between the emperor and parliament.
The Meiji Constitution was promulgated by Emperor Meiji on February 11, 1889, and came into effect on November 29, 1890, lasting until May 2, 1947. It was the result of a research mission led by Itō Hirobumi, who studied various forms of constitutional government, ultimately rejecting the US Constitution as too liberal and the French and Spanish models as tending towards despotism. The Meiji Constitution drew influence from the German and British models, resulting in a vaguely structured constitutional monarchy that preserved the power of the emperor while providing for a popularly elected parliament.
The Meiji Constitution established the emperor as the head of state, with supreme control over the army and navy, and the power to declare war, make peace, conclude treaties, dissolve the lower house of the Diet, and issue imperial ordinances in place of laws when the Diet was not in session. The emperor governed with the advice of his ministers, who answered directly to him rather than the Diet. The Diet, a bicameral parliament, consisted of an elected lower house and an upper house, or House of Peers, composed of members of the imperial family, the hereditary peerage, and members appointed by the emperor.
While the Meiji Constitution provided for a popularly elected parliament, the power of the emperor remained significant, and several aspects of the people's freedom were still conditional. The organisational structure of the Diet reflected Prussian and British influences, with the inclusion of a lower and upper house, similar to the Prussian Herrenhaus and the British House of Lords. The constitution was flexible and allowed for considerable change, but it was also criticised for its ambiguities and for enabling undemocratic patterns of political behaviour.
The Meiji Constitution had a significant influence on the future of Japan, shaping the country's political and social landscape for decades. It contributed to the modernisation of Japan and influenced Japanese self-identity, marking a shift from the traditional Confucian hierarchical order to one based on enlightenment ideals and modernity. The Meiji Constitution also established a system of public education, with free schools teaching reading, writing, mathematics, and "moral training", reinforcing students' duty to the emperor and the Japanese state.
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It was influenced by the German and British models
The Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889, was the constitution of the Empire of Japan. It was influenced by the German and British models, as well as the Prussian system, and provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy. The Meiji Restoration in 1868 provided Japan with a form of constitutional monarchy based on the Prusso-German model, in which the Emperor was an active ruler and held considerable political power. The Emperor governed the empire in theory, but in practice, the Prime Minister was the actual head of government. The Meiji Constitution established a legislature, the Diet, with two houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Peers. The organizational structure of the Diet reflected both Prussian and British influences, particularly in the inclusion of the two houses. The House of Peers resembled the Prussian Herrenhaus and the British House of Lords.
The Meiji Constitution was drafted in secret by a committee that included Japanese statesmen and foreign advisors, notably the German legal scholars Rudolf von Gneist and Lorenz von Stein. The central issue was balancing sovereignty vested in the Emperor with an elected representative legislature that could limit the sovereign's power. The United States Constitution was rejected as too liberal, and the French and Spanish models were rejected as tending towards despotism. The Reichstag and legal structures of the German Empire, especially Prussia, were of great interest to the Constitutional Study Mission. Influence was also drawn from the British Westminster system, although it was considered to grant too much power to Parliament.
The Meiji Constitution had a significant impact on Japan's future, shaping its political and social landscape for decades. It provided a framework for the country's governance and established the role of the Emperor as the head of state, with command over the army and navy. The constitution also created an independent judiciary and limited the power of the executive branch. The Meiji period saw Japan undergo rapid modernization and Westernization, with the country adopting Western models of industrialization and capitalism. The government also closely controlled education, ensuring that students received "moral training" that stressed their duty to the Emperor, country, and families.
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The Meiji emperor was granted supreme control of the army and navy
The Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889, was the constitution of the Empire of Japan. It was proclaimed on February 11, 1889, and remained in force between November 29, 1890, until 1947. The Meiji Constitution provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, based on German and British models. The Meiji emperor was granted supreme control of the army and navy, and the right to declare war, make peace, conclude treaties, dissolve the lower house of the Diet, and issue Imperial ordinances in place of laws when the Diet was not in session.
The Meiji Constitution was the result of the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ended the Tokugawa shogunate and began rapid changes that transformed Japan from an isolationist, feudal state to an industrialized world power. The Meiji emperor, or Emperor Meiji, was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan, and his reign is associated with this transformative period in Japanese history.
During the Meiji period, Japan sought to modernize and strengthen its military, which included efforts to improve its navy. The Meiji government's newly drafted army, trained in European infantry techniques and armed with modern Western guns, defeated the last resistance of the traditional samurai warriors in the 1877 Satsuma rebellion. This military transformation was a key aspect of Japan's modernization and its efforts to establish itself as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect.
The Meiji Constitution established a bicameral parliament, known as the Diet, with an elected lower house and an appointed prime minister and cabinet. The organizational structure of the Diet reflected Prussian and British influences, with a House of Representatives and a House of Peers. The emperor's power, including his control over the army and navy, was advised by the genro, or elder statesmen, who wielded considerable influence.
The Meiji Constitution had a significant impact on Japan's political system and its efforts to establish itself as a modern nation. It provided a framework for the country's governance and contributed to the centralization of power, with the emperor at the top. The constitution's provisions regarding the military, including the emperor's supreme control, also played a role in shaping Japan's future, particularly in the years leading up to and during World War II.
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It was replaced by a U.S.-approved constitution after World War II
The Meiji Constitution was replaced by a U.S.-approved constitution after World War II. This new constitution, also known as the "MacArthur Constitution", "Post-war Constitution", or "Peace Constitution", came into effect on May 3, 1947, and was based on the principles of popular sovereignty, pacifism, and the renunciation of war, as well as individual rights.
The Meiji Constitution, in force from November 29, 1890, to May 2, 1947, established a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, with the Emperor of Japan as the supreme leader. The Emperor held the right to exercise executive authority, appoint and dismiss government officials, declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. The Prime Minister and their Cabinet were not accountable to the elected members of the Imperial Diet and increasingly deferred to the military in the lead-up to World War II.
After Japan's surrender in 1945, the country was occupied by the Allies, and General Douglas MacArthur directed Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara to draft a new constitution. Shidehara created a committee of Japanese scholars, but MacArthur later presented his own draft, which was reviewed and modified by the scholars before its adoption. This new constitution shifted the focus of power, stating that "sovereign power resides with the people", and reduced the Emperor's role to a ceremonial position as "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".
The U.S.-approved constitution also established a parliamentary system with three branches of government: the National Diet (legislative), Cabinet led by a Prime Minister (executive), and the Supreme Court (judicial). It guaranteed individual rights, including legal equality, freedom of assembly, association, and speech, due process, and the right to a fair trial.
The Meiji Constitution had a significant influence on the new constitution, with the organizational structure of the Diet reflecting Prussian and British influences. However, the U.S.-approved constitution made key changes to limit the power of the Emperor and establish a more democratic form of government.
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The Meiji Constitution influenced Japanese self-identity with respect to its Asian neighbours
The Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889, was a significant development in Japan's transformation into a modern nation-state. It had a profound impact on the country's trajectory and its self-perception in relation to its Asian neighbours. The constitution was a response to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which aimed to centralise power and establish a cohesive governing body under the emperor. This marked a shift from the previous feudal system, where multiple domains were governed separately by lords known as "daimyo". The Meiji Oligarchs, who wrote the constitution, sought to create a document that balanced power between the emperor and a weak, popularly elected parliament.
The Meiji Constitution's influence on Japanese self-identity was multi-faceted. Firstly, it contributed to a sense of modernisation and Westernisation. The constitution was modelled after Western examples, particularly the German and British systems, which replaced the previous Chinese-inspired legal system. This shift towards Western models of governance and enlightenment ideals of popular education set Japan apart from its Asian neighbours and positioned it as the first Asian state to modernise along Western lines. The establishment of a national system of public schools, which taught reading, writing, mathematics, and "moral training", further reinforced loyalty to the emperor and the nation-state.
Secondly, the Meiji Constitution's emphasis on centralising power under the emperor had implications for Japan's self-perception as a unified nation. By consolidating authority in the hands of the emperor and creating a centralised government, Japan moved away from its previous feudal structure. This fostered a sense of national unity and cohesion, which was further bolstered by the establishment of a representative assembly, the National Diet. The Diet, with its Prussian and British influences, reflected Japan's desire to emulate Western political structures and assert its status as a modern nation.
Additionally, the Meiji Constitution's impact on Japan's self-identity extended beyond domestic politics. The constitution's promulgation coincided with Japan's pursuit of colonial interests in East Asia, signalling a shift in the region's power dynamics. As Japan embraced Western models of governance and industrialisation, it began to view itself as distinct from its neighbours, challenging the previously dominant influence of China in the region. This transformation influenced Japan's perception of its role in the region and set the stage for its future colonial endeavours.
The Meiji Constitution's influence on Japanese self-identity was complex and far-reaching. It fostered a sense of modernisation, Westernisation, and national unity, setting Japan apart from its Asian neighbours. The constitution's emphasis on centralising power under the emperor and its adoption of Western political structures contributed to a shift in regional dynamics and Japan's perception of its place in the world. While the Meiji Constitution had a lasting impact on Japan's self-perception, it also faced criticism for its ambiguities, undemocratic tendencies, and limited political freedoms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Meiji Constitution was the constitution of the Empire of Japan, proclaimed in 1889 and in force from 1890 until 1947.
The Meiji Constitution provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, modelled on the German and British systems. It established a weak, popularly elected parliament and preserved the power of the emperor, who was granted supreme control of the army and navy.
The Meiji Constitution was drafted by the Meiji Oligarchs in response to pressure from the people for more of a voice in the government. The Meiji Oligarchs researched various forms of constitutional government before deciding on the German model, as they believed the US Constitution was too liberal and the British system gave too much power to Parliament.
The Meiji Constitution helped define Japan as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect, influencing Japanese self-identity with respect to its Asian neighbours. Japan became the first Asian state to modernise based on the Western model, adopting enlightenment ideals of popular education.
After World War II, the Meiji Constitution was replaced by a U.S.-approved constitution stating that "sovereign power resides with the people".
