1. An Appeal I would be grateful for 15-20 volunteers to participate in a focus group evaluating this class It will be done the last day of class in class It will take 20-30 minutes If you are willing, please write me an e- mail and let me know

2. The legislative body Japan’s government is a parliamentary system, resembling that of Britain The Diet is the legislative assembly House of Councillors House of Representatives The government is headed by the Prime Minister, appointed by the ruling party The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is in power now Has been for almost all the postwar era

3. The Prime Minister Appointed, not elected; term of office regulated by party rules The Prime Minister can lose power in a vote of no-confidence The Cabinet: same as the US Cabinet The Cabinet

4. The Electoral System The old system: A “horserace style” system win, place and show multimember districts The new system, A combination: “Small and medium-sized districts” Single member districts “proportional representation” On a national level More information

5. The Legal System No jury trials in Japan Judges give all verdicts A unified national system no state/federal distinction Judges appointed; typically conservative Court cases proceed slowly and in rotaton.

6. Balance of power

7. Local Government 42 prefectures, each with its own government County and city local governments Relatively little autonomy Power flows from the center Taxation and disbursement all done from the center Local resistance by legislation and courts

8. Government and Politics: Summary Japanese legislative system Majority party picks Prime Minister LDP in majority for most of postwar era Prime minister and cabinet Showing diversity Electoral system—complicated! Unified legal system Future Challenges for Japan’s government (Nakabo)

9. Government and Politics: Future Challenges (Nakabo) Corruption, amakudari Japan’s aging society Financial and fiscal oversight Bad loans, dodgy accounting International relations Article 9, peacekeeping Relations with near neighbors Quality of life, environment (McGill)