Transformation of government structure in Japan : A comparative constitutional approach

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24530020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Public law
• Research Institution: Hitotsubashi University
• Principal Investigator: TADANO Masahito 一橋大学, 大学院法学研究科, 教授 (90258278)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 統治機構 / 政官関係 / 民主的正統性 / 両院制 / 内閣 / 政治責任 / 政治法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

After the 1990s, the structure of government in Japan has changed substantially. In this study, we examine this transformation, in consideration of constitutional framework and its function, by taking a comparative constitutional approach, and show that 1) framework of Constitution of Japan is based upon the logic of democratic legitimacy, 2) there exists a complex combination of democratic legitimacy and political responsibility, 3) it enables a conciliation between legal constituent principle of homogeneity and representation of social diversities, 4) institutional constraint resulting from this complex structure regulates the political system of Constitution of Japan.

Free Research Field

憲法