Japans political system

• 1912-1926 - Taisho democracy
• Diet increasingly gain influence and power
• 1919: taisho fell ill and stopped working
• 1921: Hirohito took over
• Genro advise is key in coordinating and unifying opinions of various institutions
• Political parties take this responsibility after old Genro left
• Democratic - allowed elected officials to be part of government as House of Representative
• Diet

  • very limited powers
  • approve National budgets but not important
  • no power to suggest/propose laws
  • voted on proposed laws
• new cabinet decided by Emperor after consult with genro, house of Peers and Privy council
• monarchical - semi-absolute political system, emperor had a lot of power thought it is said to be a constitutional monarchy
• Constitutional monarchy - A form of government in which the monarch is the head of state and the head of government
• Emperor - had power to make laws, peace, conclude treaties and command armed forces

  • appoint all military, political and judiciary position
  • power to legislate/introduce laws with approval of diet
• Oligarchy

  • system based on idea of influential families to excercise political influence and power
  • emperor seldom exercise powers directly
• • had ruling structure of oligarchs/elder statesmen
  • advise emperor on various matters
  • senior statesmen experienced political leaders appointed into Privy council, Genro, House of Peers
• privy council - appointed for life, review and decide laws, coordinate policies between emperor, government and ministries, advised emperor on constitution, budget and international treaties
• House of peers - check on Diet, block policy initiatives from Diet
• Genro - informal political structure, advised emperor on all matters
• Saionji Kinmochi (1925) - formed Seiyukai political party