The Constitution of Japan is the constitution of Japan and the supreme law in the state. Written primarily by American civilian officials working under the Allied Occupation of Japan, the constitution replaced the Meiji Constitution of 1890 when it came into effect on 3 May 1947.
The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights. In contrast to the Meiji Consitution, which invested the Emperor of Japan with supreme political power, under the new charter the Emperor was reduced to "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people" and exercises only a ceremonial role acting under the sovereignty of the people.
The constitution, also known as the "Post-war Constitution" or the "Peace Constitution" was drafted under the supervision of Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, during the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II. Japanese scholars reviewed and modified it before adoption. It changed Japan's previous totalitarian system of quasi-absolute monarchy and stratocracy with a form of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Constitution is best known for Article 9, by which Japan renounces its right to wage war and maintain military forces.
The Japanese constitution is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. It has not had any amendments to its text in more than 70 years. It is a short constitution with only 5,000 words, compared to the average constitution with 21,000 words
The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights. In contrast to the Meiji Consitution, which invested the Emperor of Japan with supreme political power, under the new charter the Emperor was reduced to "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people" and exercises only a ceremonial role acting under the sovereignty of the people.
The constitution, also known as the "Post-war Constitution" or the "Peace Constitution" was drafted under the supervision of Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, during the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II. Japanese scholars reviewed and modified it before adoption. It changed Japan's previous totalitarian system of quasi-absolute monarchy and stratocracy with a form of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Constitution is best known for Article 9, by which Japan renounces its right to wage war and maintain military forces.
The Japanese constitution is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. It has not had any amendments to its text in more than 70 years. It is a short constitution with only 5,000 words, compared to the average constitution with 21,000 words
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