NCJ Number
129224
Journal
Law and Contemporary Problems Volume: 53 Issue: 1 and 2 Dated: special issue (Winter/Spring 1990) Pages: 105-122
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this article is to highlight the deficiencies in past explanations of the Japanese parliamentary system, to create a new and appropriate image of its working, and to consider the possible institutional and behavioral changes required for creating a genuine democracy in contemporary Japan.
Abstract
A discussion of the problems accompanying the traditional explanations of the Japanese parliamentary system begins the article. A brief outline of traditional typology is presented from the traditional typology viewpoint and compares the Meiji constitution to the 1947 constitution. The old typology is then compared to the new typology which is based on democracy and includes a discussion of public will. Five different systems of governing are discussed: the equilibrium-type of monistic parliamentary system; the predominant-assembly type of monistic parliamentary system; the assembly system; the presidential system; and the dualistic parliamentary system of the republican type. The Japanese system is then presented in terms of democracy and compared to the British version of parliamentary system. A discussion of the possibility of a presidential system and reform of the electoral as well as the party system concludes the article. 7 notes