Modern Japanese Government

The modern government of Japan is currently a constitutional monarchy, it's based on a parliamentary cabinet system. Japan calls their government "the Diet". The constitution became effective in 1947, after World War 2. There are several political parties in Japan, a few are the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and the New Komeito. There is an Imperial family in Japan. Its role is to perform ceremonial acts, but the Imperial family has no power in the government. There's also a communist party and several other families.

Japan used to have an emperor, but now they have a Prime minister. The cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister and the highest court is the Supreme Court. Japans government is a constitutional monarchy, where the power of the Emperor is limited, relegated primarily to ceremonial duties. His role is defined by the 1947 constitution as “the symbol of the state and the unity of the people”.

Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan, and other elected members of the Diet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. The Emperor effectively acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions. Akihito is the current Emperor of Japan. Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, stands as next in line to the throne.

Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament. The Diet consists of a House of Representatives, containing 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved and a House of Councillors of 242 seats, whose popularly elected members serve six-year terms. There is universal suffrage for adults over 20 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elective offices. In 2009, the social liberal Democratic Party of Japan took power after 54 years of the liberal conservative Liberal Democratic Party's rule.

           The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. The position is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet (the literal translation of his Japanese title is "Prime Minister of the Cabinet") and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State, a majority of whom must be Diet members. Shinzo Abe currently serves as the Prime Minister of Japan. The current constitution requires that the Emperor promulgates legislation passed by the Diet, without specifically giving him the power to oppose the passing of the legislation. Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers: the Supreme Court and three levels of lower courts. The main body of Japanese statutory law is a collection called the Six Codes.

The executive branch reports to the Diet. The chief of the executive branch, the Prime Minister, is appointed by the Emperor as directed by the Diet. He must be a member of either house of the Diet and a civilian. The Cabinet, which he organizes, must also be civilian. The Constitution states that the majority of the Cabinet must be elected members of either house of the Diet, the precise wording leaving an opportunity to appoint non-elected officials.