Japan · Government
Government and administration in Japan
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — The Emperor
- Symbolic role with no governmental power.
- Executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Designated by the Diet.
- Legislative — National Diet: House of Representatives and House of Councillors
- The lower house prevails on budget and treaties.
- Judicial — Supreme Court and inferior courts
- Administered by the General Secretariat.
How legislation is made
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.
Enforcement institutions
- Public Prosecutors Office
- Highly selective charging practice and a very high conviction rate.
- National Police Agency
- Coordinates 47 prefectural police forces.
- Japan Fair Trade Commission
- Competition enforcement.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveMinistry of JusticeAdministers civil registration, immigration policy and corrections.
- executiveImmigration Services AgencyGrants status of residence and manages entry and departure.
- executiveNational Tax AgencyAssesses and collects national taxes.
- independentPersonal Information Protection CommissionSupervises the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.
- independentJapan Fair Trade CommissionEnforces the Antimonopoly Act.
- independentJapan Legal Support Center (Hōterasu)Provides civil legal aid and legal information.
- independentPersonal Information Protection CommissionSupervises the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.
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