Simone Lawson
The Constitution of Japan was adopted on 3 November 1946 and came into effect on 3 May 1947. It was written primarily by American civilian officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II. The document was largely the work of Supreme Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur and his occupation staff, who had prepared the draft in February 1946 after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable. The new constitution was endorsed in popular elections on 10 April 1946, which allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year ratified | 1946 |
| Year came into effect | 1947 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Japanese constitution was ratified in 1946 and came into effect in 1947
- It was drafted by American officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II
- The constitution was endorsed in popular elections in 1946, allowing Japanese women to vote for the first time
- The constitution stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power
- The document consists of a preamble and 103 articles grouped into 11 chapters
The Japanese constitution was ratified in 1946 and came into effect in 1947
The new constitution was endorsed in popular elections on 10 April 1946, which allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time. The constitution granted universal suffrage, stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power, stipulated a bill of rights, abolished peerage, and outlawed Japan’s right to make war.
The constitution consists of a preamble and 103 articles grouped into 11 chapters. It is based on the principles of popular sovereignty, with the Emperor of Japan as the symbol of the state; pacifism and the renunciation of war; and individual rights.
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It was drafted by American officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II
The Japanese constitution was drafted by American officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II. It was adopted on 3 November 1946 and came into effect on 3 May 1947. The constitution was written primarily by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, who directed prime minister Kijūrō Shidehara to draft a new constitution. MacArthur's constitution preserved the emperor as the "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". The final draft was slightly revised by the Japanese government and made public one week later.
The new constitution was endorsed in popular elections on 10 April 1946, which allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time. The document was progressive, granting universal suffrage, stipulating a bill of rights, abolishing peerage, and outlawing Japan's right to make war. It also stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power. Before Japan's defeat, Hirohito was officially regarded as Japan's absolute ruler and a quasi-divine figure.
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The constitution was endorsed in popular elections in 1946, allowing Japanese women to vote for the first time
The Japanese constitution was ratified in 1946, and came into effect on 3 May 1947. The new constitution was endorsed in popular elections on 10 April 1946, allowing Japanese women to vote for the first time.
The constitution was drafted by American civilian officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II. It was largely the work of Supreme Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur and his occupation staff, who had prepared the draft in February 1946 after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable. The document was slightly revised by the Japanese government before it was made public.
The constitution was progressive, granting universal suffrage, stripping Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power, stipulating a bill of rights, abolishing peerage, and outlawing Japan's right to make war. It was based on the principles of popular sovereignty, pacifism and the renunciation of war, and individual rights.
The constitution consists of a preamble and 103 articles grouped into 11 chapters. It succeeded the Meiji Constitution of 1889.
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The constitution stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power
The Japanese constitution was ratified on 3 November 1946 and came into effect on 3 May 1947. The constitution was written primarily by American civilian officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II. It was largely the work of Supreme Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur and his occupation staff, who had prepared the draft in February 1946 after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable.
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The document consists of a preamble and 103 articles grouped into 11 chapters
The Constitution of Japan was ratified in 1946 and came into effect in 1947. It is the supreme law of Japan and consists of a preamble and 103 articles grouped into 11 chapters.
The document was written primarily by American civilian officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II. It was directed by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, who ordered prime minister Kijūrō Shidehara to draft a new constitution. The constitution was adopted on 3 November 1946 and came into effect on 3 May 1947, succeeding the Meiji Constitution of 1889.
The 11 chapters of the constitution cover a range of topics, including the role of the Emperor of Japan, pacifism and the renunciation of war, and individual rights. The Emperor is recognised as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people, while the constitution also grants universal suffrage and stipulates a bill of rights. It abolished peerage and outlawed Japan's right to make war.
The constitution was amended in 1946 to include fundamental human rights, which are guaranteed to the people of Japan. These rights are seen as the fruits of the age-old struggle of man to be free and have been tested for durability. The constitution states that no law, ordinance, or other act of government shall contradict the provisions outlined in the constitution.
The Japanese government slightly revised the final draft, which was made public one week later. The new constitution was endorsed in popular elections on 10 April 1946, which also allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time.
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Frequently asked questions
The Japanese constitution was ratified on 3 November 1946.
The Japanese constitution came into effect on 3 May 1947.
The Japanese constitution was written primarily by American civilian officials during the occupation of Japan after World War II.
The previous Japanese constitution was the Meiji Constitution of 1889.
The new Japanese constitution granted universal suffrage, stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power, stipulated a bill of rights, abolished peerage, and outlawed Japan’s right to make war.
