Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the initial plan for Japan's wartime bureaucracy?
What was the initial plan for Japan's wartime bureaucracy?
- To dismantle it completely
- To keep it intact with some reforms
- To demilitarize and exorcise Japan's militant feudal system (correct)
- To replace it with an American-style bureaucracy
What is the term used to describe Japan's postwar state featuring a core elite of bureaucrats, politicians, and business leaders?
What is the term used to describe Japan's postwar state featuring a core elite of bureaucrats, politicians, and business leaders?
- Tripartite Regime
- Corporatist State
- Elite Triad
- Iron Triangle (correct)
What is the main criticism of Japan's political structure?
What is the main criticism of Japan's political structure?
- It is too democratic
- It limits the political influence of Japanese citizens and other pluralist interests (correct)
- It is too decentralized
- It is too socialist
What is the outcome of Japan's remarkable postwar development credited to?
What is the outcome of Japan's remarkable postwar development credited to?
What is the term used to describe Japan's type of government?
What is the term used to describe Japan's type of government?
What is the result of the persistence of Japan's ruling triad?
What is the result of the persistence of Japan's ruling triad?
What is the main feature of Japan's political regime?
What is the main feature of Japan's political regime?
What is the controversy surrounding Japan's democracy?
What is the controversy surrounding Japan's democracy?
What type of government does Japan have?
What type of government does Japan have?
What role does the Prime Minister play in Japan's government?
What role does the Prime Minister play in Japan's government?
Which of the following is a feature of Japan's political structure, as described in the passage?
Which of the following is a feature of Japan's political structure, as described in the passage?
What does the passage suggest about the relationship between recent generations of Japanese citizens and the monarchy?
What does the passage suggest about the relationship between recent generations of Japanese citizens and the monarchy?
How does the passage describe the selection of the Prime Minister in Japan?
How does the passage describe the selection of the Prime Minister in Japan?
What is a key aspect of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as described in the passage?
What is a key aspect of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as described in the passage?
What is the primary function of the Diet in Japan?
What is the primary function of the Diet in Japan?
What is the significance of events like Akihito's abdication and Naruhito's coronation in Japan, according to the passage?
What is the significance of events like Akihito's abdication and Naruhito's coronation in Japan, according to the passage?
What type of electoral system is used for the House of Representatives in Japan?
What type of electoral system is used for the House of Representatives in Japan?
Which body serves as the chief judicial authority in Japan?
Which body serves as the chief judicial authority in Japan?
What is the primary characteristic of the Japanese government structure?
What is the primary characteristic of the Japanese government structure?
What was one key reform aimed at changing electoral competition in Japan?
What was one key reform aimed at changing electoral competition in Japan?
In Japan's political structure, the cabinet is primarily responsible to which body?
In Japan's political structure, the cabinet is primarily responsible to which body?
Which demographic change prompted a reapportioning of electoral districts in Japan?
Which demographic change prompted a reapportioning of electoral districts in Japan?
What was a significant outcome of the American framers in the establishment of the Japanese constitution?
What was a significant outcome of the American framers in the establishment of the Japanese constitution?
What significant change regarding voting age occurred in Japan in 2015?
What significant change regarding voting age occurred in Japan in 2015?
What major cultural aspect has influenced Japan's political practices over time?
What major cultural aspect has influenced Japan's political practices over time?
What is characterized as arguably the most influential institution in Japan's policy-making?
What is characterized as arguably the most influential institution in Japan's policy-making?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Japan's legislative structure?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Japan's legislative structure?
What was one of the primary goals of the 1994 electoral reforms in Japan?
What was one of the primary goals of the 1994 electoral reforms in Japan?
Which aspect of Japan's government highlights its historical continuity?
Which aspect of Japan's government highlights its historical continuity?
Which aspect of the political structure did the reforms in Japan particularly target?
Which aspect of the political structure did the reforms in Japan particularly target?
What mechanism does the Japanese government use to ensure voter registration?
What mechanism does the Japanese government use to ensure voter registration?
What type of political competition was diminished by the electoral reforms in Japan?
What type of political competition was diminished by the electoral reforms in Japan?
What is the relationship between the central government and local prefectural governments in Japan?
What is the relationship between the central government and local prefectural governments in Japan?
What concept describes the collaboration between senior bureaucrats, conservative politicians, and corporate executives in Japan?
What concept describes the collaboration between senior bureaucrats, conservative politicians, and corporate executives in Japan?
Which statement accurately reflects the funding situation of prefectural governments in Japan?
Which statement accurately reflects the funding situation of prefectural governments in Japan?
What method is commonly used in Japan to communicate policy directives to the private sector?
What method is commonly used in Japan to communicate policy directives to the private sector?
How does the Japanese national government exert control over local governors?
How does the Japanese national government exert control over local governors?
What form of government is Japan classified as?
What form of government is Japan classified as?
What percentage of autonomy do local governments in Japan have in regards to their decision-making?
What percentage of autonomy do local governments in Japan have in regards to their decision-making?
Which of the following groups has historically been well taken care of by the ruling party in Japan?
Which of the following groups has historically been well taken care of by the ruling party in Japan?
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Study Notes
Political Regime
- Japan has a legislative-executive system with a parliamentary legislature called the Diet.
- The Diet consists of a lower house (House of Representatives) and an upper house (House of Councillors).
- Japan is a unitary state with 47 administrative divisions called prefectures.
- The electoral system for the lower house is a mixed system with single-member districts and proportional representation.
- The chief judicial body is the Supreme Court.
Branches of Government
- The head of state is the Emperor of Japan, who has the oldest unbroken line of monarchs in the world.
- The Prime Minister serves as the head of government and is responsible to the Diet.
- The cabinet is made up of ministers who serve as heads of Japan's 19 bureaucratic ministries and other key agencies.
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
- The Prime Minister is the head of government and draws from the Diet at least the majority of cabinet members.
- Faction leaders in the ruling party typically broker the selection process and rotate the office of the Prime Minister among various factions.
Other Institutions
- The bureaucracy is an influential institution in Japan's policy-making process.
- The Japanese civil service is smaller in size but greater in influence than its Western counterparts.
- The iron triangle of bureaucrats, politicians, and business leaders has persisted throughout Japan's post-war history.
Local Government
- Japan is divided into 47 administrative divisions called prefectures, each with its own elected governor and legislature.
- Local governments decide many local issues and can raise sufficient taxes to cover about one-third of their expenditures.
- The central government delegates local authority and can override the decisions of local governors.
Electoral System
- The electoral system for the lower house was reformed in 1994 to introduce a mixed system with single-member districts and proportional representation.
- The reform aimed to shift electoral competition away from personalized factional politics and local candidate-based campaign organizations.
- The minimum age for voting was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2015.
Iron Triangle
- The iron triangle refers to the close alliance between senior bureaucrats, conservative politicians, and big-business executives.
- This triad has limited the political influence of Japanese citizens and other pluralist interests.
- The iron triangle has been credited for Japan's post-war development and blamed for its recent economic troubles.
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