Japan

Oversight

Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities

Oversight tools

Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution of Japan, Article 63.
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 71 of the Diet Act; Article 45 (2)(3) of the Rules for the House of Representatives
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 23 of the Bank of Japan Act; Article 4 of the Board of Audit Act; Article 5 of the National Public Service Act
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
274
Number of written questions asked, per year
265 (2022)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
265 (2022)
See historical data for this field.
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, article 62; Rules for the House of Representatives, 53 and 257
Notes
The number of parliamentary enquiries cannot be counted because they are conducted on an almost daily basis in various forms.

Head of State and/or Government

Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament elects the Head of Government
Notes
The Emperor shall appoint the Prime Minister as designated by the Diet.
The Prime Minister shall be designated from among the members of the Diet by a resolution of the Diet. This designation shall precede all other business.
If the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors disagree and if no agreement can be reached even through a joint committee of both Houses, provided for by law, or the House of Councillors fails to make the designation within ten (10) days, exclusive of the period of recess, after the House of Representatives has made the designation, the decision of the House of Representatives shall be the decision of the Diet.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of Japan, Article 6
The Constitution of Japan, Article 67
The Rules for the House of Representatives, Article 18
The Rules of the House of Councillors, Article 20.
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Other (please specify)
Notes
There is no legal provision that defines the Head of the Government as the Head of State.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Not applicable
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of Japan, Article 69.
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No
Dissolving chambers
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Notes
The Constitution of Japan, Article 7.
If the House of Representatives passes a no-confidence resolution or rejects a confidence resolution, the Cabinet shall resign en masse, unless the House of Representatives is dissolved within ten days. (The Constitution of Japan, Article 69).
When there is a vacancy in the post of Prime Minister, or upon the first convocation of the Diet after a general election of members of the House of Representatives, the Cabinet shall resign en masse. (The Constitution of Japan, Article 70).