Chapter 25: Political Systems in Today's World "The Japanese Diet"

Introduction

In this chapter students learned about consolidated democracies, discussed the difficulties facing emerging democracies, evaluated authoritarian states, and analyzed global security issues. In this activity they will take a closer look at one of the world's parliamentary democracies—the Japanese Diet.

Lesson Description

Students will visit the Web site of the House of Representative of the Japanese Diet to learn more about the function of the Japanese government. They will explore various topics about the Diet and will then compare legislative proceedings of the Diet to those of the U.S. Congress.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to trace the history of voting rights in Japan.
2. Students will be able to recognize similarities and differences between the Japanese Diet and the United States Congress.

Students Web Activity Answers

1. In 1889 the House of Representatives Election Law set the voting age at 25 and restricted voting rights with a tax qualification. In 1900 the tax qualification was decreased slightly. In 1925 universal adult male suffrage was granted, and the tax qualification was eliminated. In 1945 the minimum voting age was lowered to 20, and women were granted the right to vote.
2. The three kinds of sessions are ordinary, extraordinary, and special. Each is convoked by the Emperor with the advice and approval of the Cabinet.
3. The speaker has the power to maintain order in the house, to arrange the business of the house, to supervise the administration of the house, to represent the house, to exercise authority over committees, to record the minutes, and to exercise police power.
4. The member must draft a statement outlining the reasons for the bill and present that to the speaker or the president of the house to which he or she belongs. He or she must have the support of at least 20 members of the House of Representatives and 10 members of the House of Councillors. For bills affecting the budget, the member must have the support of at least 50 members of the House of Representatives and 20 members of the House of Councillors.
5. Students' posters should reflect the movement of bills through the two legislatures.