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 Japan is academically considered a constitutional monarchy with a
bicameral parliament, the Kokkai or Diet but most of Japanese feel strange
to the term monarchy and quite a few scholars argue Japan is a republic.
Japan has a royal family led by an Emperor, but under the current
constitution he holds no power at all, not even emergency reserve powers.
The executive branch is responsible to the Diet, consisting of a cabinet
composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be
civilians. The prime minister must be a member of the Diet and is designated
by his colleagues. The prime minister has the power to appoint and remove
ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members. Sovereignty, previously
embodied in the emperor, is vested by the constitution in the Japanese
people, and the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the state.
The legislative branch consists of a House of Representatives (Shugi-in)
of 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years, and a House of
Councilors (Sangi-in) of 247 seats, whose popularly elected members serve
six-year terms. There is universal adult suffrage with a secret ballot for
all elective offices.
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