House of Councillors

The House of Councillors is the upper house of Japan’s National Diet. It has 248 members serving staggered six-year terms, with half elected every three years.

National Diet: Japan’s national legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. The House of Councillors is one of the Diet’s two chambers.
House of Peers: The appointed upper house of Japan’s prewar Imperial Diet, abolished after World War II. It was the upper chamber the House of Councillors replaced.
President of the House of Councillors: The presiding officer who chairs sessions of Japan’s House of Councillors. The president manages proceedings and represents the chamber.
Bicameralism: A system of government in which the legislature has two chambers. The House of Councillors is one half of Japan’s bicameral legislature.
Twisted Diet: A Japanese legislative situation in which governing parties control the lower house but lack a majority in the upper house. This configuration can obstruct bills and force negotiation across party lines.
House of Representatives: The lower house of Japan’s National Diet, with members elected for terms of up to four years. Its stronger authority in key disputes limits the upper house’s power to block legislation.
Constitution of the Empire of Japan: The constitution that governed Japan from 1890 until its postwar replacement in 1947. Its Imperial Diet and appointed House of Peers differed sharply from the postwar legislature.
Shinzo Abe: A Japanese politician who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. His long tenure made the balance between his government and the chamber consequential.
Senate of Canada: The appointed upper chamber of Canada’s Parliament. Unlike Japan’s elected upper house, Canada’s Senate is appointed.
Japanese constitutional amendment: The process of changing Japan’s constitution, requiring approval by two-thirds of each Diet chamber and a national referendum. The chamber’s supermajority threshold gives it a direct veto over proposed amendments.

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