The Government of Japan

What type of government system is used in Japan?

How is power shared in Japan?

What is the role of the citizen in Japan?

Government System•The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy.

•Japan also has a unitary system of government in which the central government has all the power.

•Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

•The central or national government has three branches

1. Executive2. Legislative3. Judicial

Executive Branch•The executive branch is composed of the emperor, the prime minister, and the cabinet.

•The emperor is Japan’s chief of state.

•The emperor does not have any real political power.

•The emperor acts as a representative of the Japanese people.

Meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada

Executive Branch•The prime minister is the head of the government.

•The prime minister is Japan’s top government official.

•The leader of the political party that receives the most votes becomes the prime minister.

•The prime minister also appoints his or her cabinet, which are advisors to the prime minister.

Legislative Branch•The legislative branch is called the Diet.

•Members of Japan’s parliament are elected by the people of Japan.

•The Diet creates Japan’s laws.

•Japan’s prime minister is selected by members of the Diet.

Judicial Branch•The judicial branch is composed of Japan’s Supreme Court.

•15 judges make up the Supreme Court. One of those judges is known as the Chief Justice.

•The Supreme Court’s job is to make sure the members of the legislative and executive branches are following Japan’s constitution.

Japanese Prefectures•Japan is made up of 47 governed districts or prefectures.

•Leaders of each prefecture are elected by popular vote.

•The leader of each prefecture is responsible for representing his or her prefecture’s people.

•The central government has power over the local governments (prefectures).

Citizen Participation

•Japanese citizens 20 and older can vote.

•People vote for leaders using secret ballots.

•Voter turnout is low in Japanese elections.

Picture from Japan’s first democratic election