Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | AustraliaReviewed | JapanReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Common law | Civil law with common-law influence |
| System of government | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act | Constitution of Japan |
| In force since | 1901 | 1947 |
| Capital | Canberra | Tokyo |
| Official languages | English | Japanese |
| Currency | Australian Dollar (AUD) | Japanese Yen (JPY) |
| Population | 26,800,000 | 123,500,000 |
| Division of powers | Chapter III strictly separates federal judicial power; the High Court polices the boundary and may invalidate legislation for exceeding it. | Parliamentary government with the Cabinet collectively responsible to the Diet, and a Supreme Court holding the final power of constitutional review. |
| How law is made | Bills pass both chambers and receive Royal Assent. A persistent deadlock can trigger a double dissolution and, ultimately, a joint sitting. | Most bills are Cabinet-sponsored, drafted by ministries and reviewed by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, then passed by both houses; the lower house can override the upper by a two-thirds majority. |
| Legal profession | Admission is state-based but nationally recognised; practitioners may be admitted as barristers and solicitors, with an independent bar in most states. | Candidates pass the national bar examination, then complete a year at the Legal Training and Research Institute before qualifying as bengoshi, judge or prosecutor. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.