House of Representatives of Japan
Encyclopedia
The is the lower house
of the Diet of Japan
. The House of Councillors
of Japan is the upper house
.
The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation
, and 300 are elected from single-member constituencies. 241 seats are required for majority.
The overall voting system used to elect the House of Representatives is a parallel system
, not a form of proportional representation. Under a parallel system the allocation of list seats does not take into account the outcome in the single seat constituencies. Therefore the overall allocation of seats in the House of Representatives is not proportional, to the advantage of larger parties. In contrast, in bodies such as the German Bundestag
the election of single-seat members and party list members is linked, so that the overall result respects proportional representation.
The House of Representatives is the more powerful of the two houses, able to override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority. It can be dissolved by the Prime Minister
at will, as it was by Taro Aso
on July 21, 2009.
(the House of Representatives) but is voted down by the upper house
(the House of Councillors
) the House of Representatives can override the decision of the House of Councillors by a two-thirds vote in the affirmative. However, in the case of treaties
, the budget
, and the selection of the prime minister, the House of Councillors can only delay passage, but not block the legislation. As a result, the House of Representatives is considered the more powerful house.
Members of the House of Representatives, who are elected to a maximum of four years, sit for a shorter term than members of the House of Councillors
, who are elected to full six-year terms. The lower house can also be dissolved by the Prime Minister or the passage of a nonconfidence motion, while the House of Councillors cannot be dissolved. Thus the House of Representatives is considered to be more sensitive to public opinion, and is termed the "lower house".
The term "lower house" is also a legacy of the 1889 Meiji Constitution
, when the House of Peers
functioned as an aristocratic upper house in a format similar to the House of Lords
in the Westminster system
, or the Herrenhaus
in the Prussia
n-based German government of the time.
Vacancies:
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left|Parties
! 1960 !! 1963 !! 1967 !! 1969 !! 1972 !! 1976 !! 1979 !! 1980 !! 1983 !! 1986 !! 1990 !! 1993 !! 1996 !! 2000 !! 2003 !! 2005 !! 2009
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP) Jiyū Minshutō
| 57.6 % || 54.7 % || 48.8 % || 47.6% || 46.8 % || 41.8% || 44.6% || 47.9% || 48.9% || 49.4% || 46.1% || 36.7% || 38.6% || 41.0% || 43.9% || 47.8% || 38.6%
|-
| Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Nihon Shakaitō
| 27.6 % || 29.0 % || 27.9 % || 21.4 % || 21.9% || 20.7% || 19.7% || 19.3% || 19.5% || 17.2% || 24.4% || 15.4% || colspan="5" | –
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) Minshutō
| colspan="12" | – || 10.6% || 27.6% || 36.7% || 36.4% || 47.4%
|-
| align="left"| New Frontier Party
(NFP) Shinshintō
| colspan="11" | – || 18.1% (*) || 28.0% || colspan="4" | –
|-
|align="left"| (New) Komeito Party
(NKP) Kōmeitō
| colspan="2" | – || 5.4 % || 10.9 % || 8.5% || 11.0% || 9.8% || 9.0% || 10.1% || 9.4% || 8.0% || 8.1% || – || 2.0% || 1.5% || 1.4% || 1.1%
|-
|align="left"| Japanese Communist Party
(JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō
| 2.9 % || 4.0 % || 4.8 % || 6.8 % || 10.5% || 10.4% || 10.4% || 9.8% || 9.3% || 8.8% || 8.0% || 7.7% || 12.6% || 12.1% || 8.1% || 7.2% || 4.2%
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Party
Jiyūtō
| colspan="13" | – || 3.4% || colspan="3" | –
|-
|align="left"| Social Democratic Party
(SDP) Shakai Minshutō
| colspan="12" | – || 2.2% || 3.8% || 2.9% || 1.5% || 1.9%
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Socialist Party
(DSP) Minshatō
| 8.8 % || 7.4 % || 7.4 % || 7.7 % || 7.0% || 6.3% || 6.8% || 6.6% || 7.3% || 6.4% || 4.8% || 3.5% || colspan="5" |
|}
(*) NFP-precursors Japan Renewal Party
(Shinseitō) & Japan New Party
(Nihon Shintō)
Note: Before the 1994 electoral reform all districts but one (Amami electoral district 1955–1990) were multi-member constituencies.
! Parties !! 1996 !! 2000 !! 2003 !! 2005 !! 2009
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP) Jiyū Minshutō
| 32.8% || 28.3% || 35.0% || 38.1% || 26.7%
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) Minshutō
| 16.1% || 25.2% || 37.4% || 31.0% || 42.4%
|-
| align="left"| New Frontier Party
(NFP) Shinshintō
| 28.0% || colspan="4" | –
|-
|align="left"| New Komeito Party
(NKP) Kōmeitō
| – || 13.0% || 14.8% || 13.3% || 11.4%
|-
|align="left"| Japanese Communist Party
(JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō
| 13.1% || 11.2% || 7.8% || 7.2% || 7.0%
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Party
Jiyūtō
| – || 11.0% || colspan="3" | –
|-
|align="left"| Social Democratic Party
(SDP) Shakai Minshutō
| 6.4% || 9.4% || 5.1% || 5.5% || 4.2%
|}
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
. The House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
of Japan is the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
.
The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, and 300 are elected from single-member constituencies. 241 seats are required for majority.
The overall voting system used to elect the House of Representatives is a parallel system
Parallel voting
Parallel voting describes a mixed voting system where voters in effect participate in two separate elections for a single chamber using different systems, and where the results in one election have little or no impact on the results of the other...
, not a form of proportional representation. Under a parallel system the allocation of list seats does not take into account the outcome in the single seat constituencies. Therefore the overall allocation of seats in the House of Representatives is not proportional, to the advantage of larger parties. In contrast, in bodies such as the German Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
the election of single-seat members and party list members is linked, so that the overall result respects proportional representation.
The House of Representatives is the more powerful of the two houses, able to override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority. It can be dissolved by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
at will, as it was by Taro Aso
Taro Aso
was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
on July 21, 2009.
Right to vote and candidature
- Japanese nationals aged 20 years and older may vote.
- Japanese nationals aged 25 years and older may run for office in the lower house.
Differences between the Upper and Lower Houses
The House of Representatives has several powers not given to the House of Councillors. If a bill is passed by the lower houseLower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
(the House of Representatives) but is voted down by the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
(the House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
) the House of Representatives can override the decision of the House of Councillors by a two-thirds vote in the affirmative. However, in the case of treaties
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
, the budget
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
, and the selection of the prime minister, the House of Councillors can only delay passage, but not block the legislation. As a result, the House of Representatives is considered the more powerful house.
Members of the House of Representatives, who are elected to a maximum of four years, sit for a shorter term than members of the House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
, who are elected to full six-year terms. The lower house can also be dissolved by the Prime Minister or the passage of a nonconfidence motion, while the House of Councillors cannot be dissolved. Thus the House of Representatives is considered to be more sensitive to public opinion, and is termed the "lower house".
The term "lower house" is also a legacy of the 1889 Meiji Constitution
Meiji Constitution
The ', known informally as the ', was the organic law of the Japanese empire, in force from November 29, 1890 until May 2, 1947.-Outline:...
, when the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
functioned as an aristocratic upper house in a format similar to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, or the Herrenhaus
Herrenhaus
The German term Herrenhaus is equivalent to the English House of Lords and describes roughly similar institutions as the English House of Lords in German-speaking countries.More specifically, Herrenhaus, can refer to either of the following:...
in the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n-based German government of the time.
Current composition
(as of June 3, 2011)| parliamentary group (breakdown by party) |
Representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Japan Democratic Party of Japan The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum... /Club of Independents (DPJ: 300 + Speaker, NPD New Party Daichi New Party Daichi is a political party formed on August 18, 2005. The party is headed by former Liberal Democratic Party member Muneo Suzuki. Suzuki resigned from the LDP in June 2002 after being arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes... : 1, indep.: 2) |
303 | |
| Liberal Democratic Party Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election... (LDP: 117 + Vice-Speaker, indep.: 1) |
118 | |
| Kōmeitō | 21 | |
| Japanese Communist Party Japanese Communist Party The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism... |
9 | |
| Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party (Japan) The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a... /Shimin Rengō ("Citizens' League") |
6 | |
| Your Party Your Party is a center-right Japanese political party. Led by Yoshimi Watanabe, who split from the Liberal Democratic Party , the party was founded on August 8, 2009 after then-Prime Minister Aso dissolved the lower house. A concept behind the party is to make the government more democratic, and to eliminate... |
5 | |
| People's New Party People's New Party The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes... /New Party Nippon New Party Nippon The New Party Nippon is a Japanese political party formed on August 21, 2005. The party is headed by the former Nagano governor Yasuo Tanaka, and includes Diet members Kōki Kobayashi , Takashi Aoyama, Makoto Taki, and Hiroyuki Arai, who left the Liberal Democratic Party in opposition to Prime... (PNP: 3, NPN: 1) |
4 | |
| Sunrise Party of Japan Sunrise Party of Japan The is a Japanese political party. The political party is formed by five Japanese lawmakers and parliamentarians, four former members of the Liberal Democratic Party and an independent politician. It was named by the veteran Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintarō Ishihara who supported the... |
2 | |
| Group for upholding the interest and life of the nation (former "Hiranuma group") | 2 | |
| Independents (incl. Speaker and Vice-Speaker) (ex-LDP independent: 1, ex-DPJ independents: 5, Genzei Nippon: 1) |
9 | |
| Total | 479 | |
Vacancies:
- Mitsue Kawakami's seat in the Kinki proportional block will remain vacant until the next general election because all candidates on the DPJ's Kinki PR list have been elected in 2009.
Election results for major parties since 1960
|-!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left|Parties
! 1960 !! 1963 !! 1967 !! 1969 !! 1972 !! 1976 !! 1979 !! 1980 !! 1983 !! 1986 !! 1990 !! 1993 !! 1996 !! 2000 !! 2003 !! 2005 !! 2009
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(LDP) Jiyū Minshutō
| 57.6 % || 54.7 % || 48.8 % || 47.6% || 46.8 % || 41.8% || 44.6% || 47.9% || 48.9% || 49.4% || 46.1% || 36.7% || 38.6% || 41.0% || 43.9% || 47.8% || 38.6%
|-
| Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Nihon Shakaitō
| 27.6 % || 29.0 % || 27.9 % || 21.4 % || 21.9% || 20.7% || 19.7% || 19.3% || 19.5% || 17.2% || 24.4% || 15.4% || colspan="5" | –
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(DPJ) Minshutō
| colspan="12" | – || 10.6% || 27.6% || 36.7% || 36.4% || 47.4%
|-
| align="left"| New Frontier Party
New Frontier Party
The was a Japanese political party that existed during the mid-1990s. As a merger of several small parties, the party was ideologically diverse, with its membership ranging from moderate socialists to neoliberals and conservatives...
(NFP) Shinshintō
| colspan="11" | – || 18.1% (*) || 28.0% || colspan="4" | –
|-
|align="left"| (New) Komeito Party
New Komeito Party
The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent...
(NKP) Kōmeitō
| colspan="2" | – || 5.4 % || 10.9 % || 8.5% || 11.0% || 9.8% || 9.0% || 10.1% || 9.4% || 8.0% || 8.1% || – || 2.0% || 1.5% || 1.4% || 1.1%
|-
|align="left"| Japanese Communist Party
Japanese Communist Party
The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...
(JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō
| 2.9 % || 4.0 % || 4.8 % || 6.8 % || 10.5% || 10.4% || 10.4% || 9.8% || 9.3% || 8.8% || 8.0% || 7.7% || 12.6% || 12.1% || 8.1% || 7.2% || 4.2%
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)
The was a Japanese liberal party formed in 1998 by Ichirō Ozawa and Hirohisa Fujii. It is now defunct, having joined the Democratic Party of Japan in 2003....
Jiyūtō
| colspan="13" | – || 3.4% || colspan="3" | –
|-
|align="left"| Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Japan)
The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a...
(SDP) Shakai Minshutō
| colspan="12" | – || 2.2% || 3.8% || 2.9% || 1.5% || 1.9%
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Socialist Party
Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)
The was a social democratic party in Japan.- History :The Democratic Socialist Party was established in 1960 by a breakaway group of the Japan Socialist Party. It was made up of many members of the former Rightist Socialist Party of Japan, a moderate social-democratic faction that existed...
(DSP) Minshatō
| 8.8 % || 7.4 % || 7.4 % || 7.7 % || 7.0% || 6.3% || 6.8% || 6.6% || 7.3% || 6.4% || 4.8% || 3.5% || colspan="5" |
|}
(*) NFP-precursors Japan Renewal Party
Japan Renewal Party
The Japan Renewal Party was a Japanese political party that existed in the early 1990s. It was founded in 1993 by 44 members of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Tsutomu Hata and Ichirō Ozawa...
(Shinseitō) & Japan New Party
Japan New Party
The Japan New Party was a Japanese political party that existed briefly from 1992 to 1994. It should not be confused with the New Party Nippon founded in 2005....
(Nihon Shintō)
Note: Before the 1994 electoral reform all districts but one (Amami electoral district 1955–1990) were multi-member constituencies.
! Parties !! 1996 !! 2000 !! 2003 !! 2005 !! 2009
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(LDP) Jiyū Minshutō
| 32.8% || 28.3% || 35.0% || 38.1% || 26.7%
|-
|align="left"| Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(DPJ) Minshutō
| 16.1% || 25.2% || 37.4% || 31.0% || 42.4%
|-
| align="left"| New Frontier Party
New Frontier Party
The was a Japanese political party that existed during the mid-1990s. As a merger of several small parties, the party was ideologically diverse, with its membership ranging from moderate socialists to neoliberals and conservatives...
(NFP) Shinshintō
| 28.0% || colspan="4" | –
|-
|align="left"| New Komeito Party
New Komeito Party
The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent...
(NKP) Kōmeitō
| – || 13.0% || 14.8% || 13.3% || 11.4%
|-
|align="left"| Japanese Communist Party
Japanese Communist Party
The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...
(JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō
| 13.1% || 11.2% || 7.8% || 7.2% || 7.0%
|-
|align="left"| Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)
The was a Japanese liberal party formed in 1998 by Ichirō Ozawa and Hirohisa Fujii. It is now defunct, having joined the Democratic Party of Japan in 2003....
Jiyūtō
| – || 11.0% || colspan="3" | –
|-
|align="left"| Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Japan)
The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a...
(SDP) Shakai Minshutō
| 6.4% || 9.4% || 5.1% || 5.5% || 4.2%
|}
See also
- List of districts of the House of Representatives of Japan
- List of members of the Diet of Japan
- List of Speakers of the House of Representatives of Japan
- SekihairitsuSekihairitsuThe is a method used in the proportional representation constituencies for the Japanese House of Representatives to determine the order of candidates placed on the same list position by their party....
, the system used in elections for the House of Representatives to determine the order of candidates on a proportional representation list
External links
- House of Representatives Website (in English) – Official site of the House of Representatives
- House of Representatives Internet TV- Official site