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Japan's Constitution of 1889

Historical

This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the
Comparative Constitutions Project, and distributed on constituteproject.org.
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Table of contents
CHAPTER I: The Emperor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
CHAPTER II: Rights and Duties of Subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CHAPTER III: The Imperial Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CHAPTER IV: The Ministers of State and the Privy Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CHAPTER V: The Judicial Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER VI: Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER VII: Supplementary Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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CHAPTER I: The Emperor

• Type of government envisioned Article 1

The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors
unbroken for ages eternal.

• Head of state selection

• Eligibility for head of state
Art 2
The Imperial throne shall be succeeded to by imperial male descendants, according
to the provisions of the Imperial House Law.

• Head of state immunity Art 3

The Emperor is sacred and inviolable.

• Name/structure of executive(s) Art 4

The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in himself the rights of
sovereignty, and exercises them, according to the provisions of the present
constitution.

• Head of state decree power Art 5

The Emperor exercises the legislative power with the consent of the Imperial Diet.

• Approval of general legislation Art 6

The Emperor gives sanction to laws and orders them to be promulgated and
executed.

• Dismissal of the legislature Art 7

The Emperor convokes the Imperial Diet, opens, closes and prorogues it, and
dissolves the House of Representatives.

• Head of state decree power Art 8

The Emperor, in consequence of an urgent necessity to maintain public safety or to
avert public calamities, issues, when the Imperial Diet is not sitting, imperial
ordinances in place of laws.

• Head of state decree power Art 9

The Emperor issues, or causes to be issued, the ordinances necessary for the
carrying out of the laws, or for the maintenance of the public peace and order, and
for the promotion of the welfare of the subjects. But no ordinance shall in any way
alter any of the existing laws.

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• Head of state powers

• Selection of active-duty commanders
Art 10
The Emperor determines the organization of the different branches of the
administration, and the salaries of all civil and military officers, and appoints and
dismisses the same. Exceptions especially provided for in the present constitution or
in other laws shall be in accordance with the respective provisions (bearing thereon).

• Designation of commander in chief Art 11

The Emperor has the supreme command of the army and navy.

Art 12
The Emperor determines the organization and peace standing of the army and navy.

• International law
• Treaty ratification
Art 13
• Power to declare/approve war
The Emperor declares war, makes peace and concludes treaties.

• Emergency provisions Art 14

The Emperor proclaims a state of seige. The conditions and effects of a state of seige
shall be determined by law.

• Head of state powers Art 15

The Emperor confers titles of nobility, rank, orders and other marks of honor.

• Power to pardon Art 16

The Emperor orders amnesty, pardon, commutation of punishment and
rehabilitation.

Art 17
A regency shall be instituted in conformity with the provisions of the Imperial House
Law.
The regent shall exercise the powers appertaining to the Emperor in his name.

CHAPTER II: Rights and Duties of Subjects

Art 18
The conditions necessary for being a Japanese subject shall be determined by law.

• Civil service recruitment Art 19

Japanese subjects may, according to qualifications determined in laws or ordinances,
be appointed to civil or military offices equally, and may fill any other public offices.

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• Duty to serve in the military Art 20

Japanese subjects are amenable to service in the army and navy, according to the
provisions of law.

• Duty to pay taxes Art 21

Japanese subjects are amenable to the duty of paying taxes, according to the
provisions of law.

• Freedom of movement Art 22

Japanese subjects shall have the liberty of abode and of changing the same within
the limits of law.

• Protection from unjustified restraint

• Principle of no punishment without law
Art 23
No Japanese subject shall be arrested, detained, tried or punished, unless according
to law.

Art 24
No Japanese subject shall be deprived of his right of being tried by judges
determined by law.

• Regulation of evidence collection

• Right to privacy
Art 25
Except in the cases provided for in the law, the house of no Japanese subject shall be
entered or searched without his consent.

• Right to privacy Art 26

Except in the cases mentioned in the law, the secrecy of the letters of every Japanese
subject shall remain inviolable.

• Protection from expropriation

• Right to own property
Art 27
The right of property of every Japanese subject shall remain inviolable.
Measures necessary to be taken for the public benefit shall be provided by law.

• Freedom of religion Art 28

Japanese subjects shall, within limits not prejudicial to peace and order, and not
antagonistic to their duties as subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief.

• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of association
Art 29
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of press
Japanese subjects shall within the limits of the law, enjoy the liberty of speech,
writing, publication, public meeting and association.

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• Right of petition Art 30

Japanese subjects may present petitions, by observing the proper forms of respect
and by complying with the rules specially provided for the same.

Art 31
The provisions in the present chapter shall not affect the exercise of the powers
appertaining to the Emperor in times of war or in cases of national emergency.

Art 32
Each and every one of the provisions contained in the preceding articles of the
present chapter, that are not in conflict with the laws or the rules and discipline of
the army and navy, shall apply to the officers and men of the army and navy.

CHAPTER III: The Imperial Diet

• Structure of legislative chamber(s) Art 33

The Imperial Diet shall consist of two houses, a House of Peers, and a House of
Representatives.

• Mentions of social class

• Second chamber selection
Art 34
The House of Peers shall, in accordance with the Ordinance concerning the House of
Peers, be composed of the members of the imperial family, of the orders of nobility,
and of those persons who have been nominated thereto by the Emperor.

• First chamber selection Art 35

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members elected by the people,
according to the provisions of the electoral law.

Art 36
No one shall at one and the same time be a member of both houses.

Art 37
Every law requires the consent of the Imperial Diet.

• Division of labor between chambers

• Initiation of general legislation
Art 38
Both houses shall vote upon projects of law submitted to them by the government,
and may respectively initiate projects of law.

Art 39

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A bill, which has been rejected by either the one or the other of the two houses, shall
not be again brought in during the same session.

Art 40
Both houses may make representations to the government as to laws or upon any
other subject. When, however, such representations are not accepted, they can not
be made a second time during the same session.

Art 41
The Imperial Diet shall be convoked every year.

• Length of legislative sessions Art 42

A session of the Imperial Diet shall last during three months. In case of necessity, the
duration of a session may be prolonged by imperial order.

• Extraordinary legislative sessions Art 43

When urgent necessity arises, an extraordinary session may be convoked, in addition
to the ordinary one.
The duration of an extraordinary session shall be determined by imperial order.

Art 44
The opening, closing, prolongation of session, or prorogation of the Imperial Diet
shall be effected simultaneously for both houses.

Art 45
When the House of Representatives has been ordered to dissolve, members shall be
caused by imperial order to be newly elected, and the new house shall be convoked
within five months from the day of dissolution.

• Quorum for legislative sessions Art 46

No debate shall be opened, and no vote shall be taken in either house of the Imperial
Diet, unless not less than one third of the whole number of the members thereof is
present.

Art 47
Votes shall be taken in both houses by absolute majority. In case of a tie, the
president shall have the casting vote.

• Public or private sessions Art 48

The deliberations of both houses shall be held in public. The deliberations may,
however, upon demand of the government or by resolution of the house, be held in
secret sitting.

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Art 49
Both houses of the Imperial Diet may respectively present addresses to the
Emperor.

Art 50
Both houses may receive petitions presented by subjects.

Art 51
Both houses may enact, besides what is provided for in the present Constitution and
in the Law of the Houses, rules necessary for the management of their internal
affairs.

• Immunity of legislators Art 52

No member of either house shall be held responsible outside the respective houses,
for any opinion uttered or for any vote cast in the house. When, however, a member
himself has given publicity to his opinions by public speech, by documents in print or
in writing, or by any other means, he shall in the matter, be amenable to the general
law.

• Immunity of legislators Art 53

The members of both houses shall, during the session be free from arrest, unless with
the consent of the house, except in cases where taken in flagrante delicto, or of
offenses connected with a state of internal commotion or with a foreign trouble.

Art 54
The ministers of state and the delegates of the government may, at any time, take
seats and speak in either house.

CHAPTER IV: The Ministers of State and the

Privy Council

• Establishment of cabinet/ministers
• Powers of cabinet
Art 55
The respective ministers of State shall give their advice to the Emperor, and be
responsible for it.
All laws, imperial ordinances and imperial rescripts, of whatever kind, that relate to
the affairs of State, require the countersignature of a minister of State.

• Advisory bodies to the head of state Art 56

The Privy Council shall, in accordance with the provision for the organization of the
Privy Council, deliberate upon important matters of State, when they have been
consulted by the Emperor.

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CHAPTER V: The Judicial Power

• Structure of the courts Art 57

The judicial power shall be exercised by the courts of law according to law, in the
name of the Emperor.
The organization of the courts of law shall be determined by law.

Art 58
• Eligibility for administrative judges The judges shall be appointed from among those who possess proper qualifications
• Administrative court selection
• Eligibility for ordinary court judges according to law.
• Ordinary court selection
• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal No judge shall be deprived of his position, unless by way of criminal sentence, or
disciplinary punishment.
Rules for disciplinary punishment shall be determined by law.

• Right to public trial Art 59

Trials and judgments of a court shall be conducted publicly. When, however, there
exists any fear that such publicity may be prejudicial to peace and order, or to the
maintenance of public morality, the public trial may be suspended by provision of law
or by the decision of the court.

Art 60
All matters that fall within the competency of special tribunals shall be specially
provided for by law.

• Ultra-vires administrative actions

• Establishment of administrative courts
Art 61
No suit which relates to rights alleged to have been infringed by the illegal measures
of the executive authorities, and which should come within the competency of the
Court of Administrative Litigation, specially established by law, shall be taken
cognizance of by a court of law.

CHAPTER VI: Finance

Art 62
The imposition of a new tax or the modification of the rates (of an existing one) shall
be determined by law.
However, all such administrative fees or other revenue having the nature of
compensation shall not fall within the category of the above clause.
The raising of national loans and the contracting of other liabilities to the charge of
the national treasury, except those that are provided in the budget, shall require the
consent of the Imperial Diet.

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Art 63
The taxes levied at present shall, in so far as they are not remodeled by a new law, be
collected according to the old system.

• Budget bills Art 64

The expenditure and revenue of the State require the consent of the Imperial Diet by
means of an annual budget.
Any and all expenditures exceeding the appropriation set forth in the titles and
paragraphs of the budget, or that are not provided for in the budget, shall
subsequently require the appropriation of the Imperial Diet.

• Budget bills Art 65

The budget shall first be laid before the House of Representatives.

Art 66
The expenditures of the Imperial House shall be defrayed every year out of the
national treasury, according to the fixed amount for the same, and shall not require
the consent thereto of the Imperial Diet, except in case an increase thereof is
necessary.

Art 67
Those expenditures already fixed and based upon the powers belonging to the
Emperor by the Constitution, and such expenditures as may have arisen by the effect
of law, or that relate to the legal obligations of the government, shall neither be
rejected nor reduced by the Imperial Diet, without the concurrence of the
government.

Art 68
In order to meet special requirements, the government may ask the consent of the
Imperial Diet to a certain amount as a continuing expenditure fund, for a previously
fixed number of years.

Art 69
In order to supply deficiencies, which are unavoidable in the budget, and to meet
requirements unprovided for in the same, a reserve fund shall be provided in the
budget.

• Powers of cabinet Art 70

When the Imperial Diet can not be convoked, owing to the external or internal
condition of the country, in case of urgent need for the maintenance of public safety
the government may enact all necessary financial measures, by means of an imperial
ordinance.
In the case mentioned in the preceding clause, the matter shall be submitted to the
Imperial Diet at its next session, and its approbation shall be obtained thereto.

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• Budget bills Art 71

When the Imperial Diet has not voted on the budget or when the budget has not
been brought into actual existence the government shall carry out the budget of the
preceding year.

Art 72
The final account of the expenditures and revenue of the State shall be verified and
confirmed by the Board of Audit, and it shall be submitted by the government to the
Imperial Diet, together with the report of verification of the said board.
The organization and competency of the Board of Audit shall be determined by a
special law.

CHAPTER VII: Supplementary Rules

• Constitution amendment procedure Art 73

When it may become necessary in future to amend the provisions of the present
Constitution, a project to that effect shall be submitted to the Imperial Diet by
imperial order.
In the above case, neither house shall open the debate, unless not less than two
thirds of the whole number of the members are present, and no amendment shall be
passed, unless a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present is
obtained.

• Constitution amendment procedure Art 74

No modification of the Imperial House Law shall be required to be submitted to the
deliberation of the Imperial Diet.
No provision of the present Constitution can be modified by the Imperial House Law.

• Constitution amendment procedure Art 75

No modification shall be introduced into the Constitution, or into the Imperial House
Law, during the time of a regency.

Art 76
• Transitional provisions Existing legal enactments, such as laws, regulations, ordinances, or by whatever
names they may be called, shall, so far as they do not conflict with the present
Constitution, continue in force.
All existing contracts or orders, that entail obligations upon the government, and
that are connected with expenditure, shall come within the scope of Article 67.

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Topic index

Administrative court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Advisory bodies to the head of state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Approval of general legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Budget bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11

Civil service recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Constitution amendment procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Designation of commander in chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Dismissal of the legislature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Division of labor between chambers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Duty to pay taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Duty to serve in the military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Eligibility for administrative judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Eligibility for head of state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Eligibility for ordinary court judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Emergency provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Establishment of administrative courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Establishment of cabinet/ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Extraordinary legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

First chamber selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Freedom of assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom of association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom of expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom of movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom of press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Freedom of religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Head of state decree power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Head of state immunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Head of state powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Head of state selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

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Immunity of legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Initiation of general legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
International law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Length of legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Mentions of social class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Name/structure of executive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Ordinary court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Power to declare/approve war . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Power to pardon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Powers of cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10
Principle of no punishment without law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Protection from expropriation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Protection from unjustified restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Public or private sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Quorum for legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Regulation of evidence collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Right of petition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Right to own property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Right to privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Right to public trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Second chamber selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Selection of active-duty commanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Structure of legislative chamber(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Structure of the courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Supreme/ordinary court judge removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Transitional provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Treaty ratification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Type of government envisioned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Ultra-vires administrative actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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