708-Chaudhari Technical Institute, Gandhinagar - Gujarat ...

PESTAL ANALYSIS
POLITICAL CULTURE OF JAPAN
Introduction
• The Japanese government, a constitutional monarchy, is based on a
parliamentary cabinet system. Executive power is vested in the
cabinet, which consists of the prime minister and not more than 17
ministers of state that collectively are responsible to the Diet. The
prime minister, who must be a member of the Diet, is designated by the
Diet. In practice, the prime minister is always a member of the House
of Representatives. The prime minister has the power to appoint and
dismiss the ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians and a
majority of whom must be members of the
Diet. Japan's constitution became effective on May 3, 1947, and
consists of 103 articles.
• Unlike the American political system and the British political system
which essentially have existed in their current form for centuries, the
present Japanese political system is a much more recent construct
dating from Japan's defeat in the Second World War and its
subsequent occupation by the United States. The post-war constitution
of 1947 is an anti-militarist document which includes the renunciation of
the right to wage war and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces
although later a limited self-defence force was permitted.
System of government
• Japan is a democratic, constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
government headed by a Prime Minister. Japan maintains an Imperial
Family, headed by the Emperor, currently Emperor Akihito. Universal
suffrage is limited to citizens of Japan aged 20 years or older; voting is
voluntary and actual voting rates vary widely.
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