Editing National Diet (section)

==Powers==

Article 41 of the [[Constitution of Japan|Constitution]] describes the National Diet as "the highest organ of State power" and "the sole law-making organ of the State". This statement is in forceful contrast to the [[Meiji Constitution]], which described the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] as the one who exercised legislative power with the consent of the Diet. The Diet's responsibilities include not only the making of laws but also the approval of the annual national budget that the government submits and the ratification of treaties. It can also initiate draft constitutional amendments, which, if approved, must be presented to the people in a referendum. The Diet may conduct "investigations in relation to government" (Article 62).

The [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] must be designated by Diet resolution, establishing the principle of legislative supremacy over executive government agencies (Article 67). The government can also be dissolved by the Diet if the House of Representatives passes a motion of no confidence introduced by fifty members of the House of Representatives. Government officials, including the Prime Minister and [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet members]], are required to appear before Diet investigative committees and answer inquiries. The Diet also has the power to impeach judges convicted of criminal or irregular conduct.<ref name="const">[[National Diet Library]]. [http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c01.html Constitution of Japan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007073643/http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c01.html |date=October 7, 2011 }}. Published 1947. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref>

In most circumstances, in order to become law a bill must be first passed by both houses of the Diet and then promulgated by the Emperor. This role of the Emperor is similar to the [[Royal Assent]] in some other nations; however, the Emperor cannot refuse to promulgate a law and therefore his legislative role is merely a formality.<ref>House of Councillors. [https://web.archive.org/web/20010411172147/http://www.sangiin.go.jp/eng/guide/f_c_6.htm Legislative Procedure]. Published 2001. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref>

The House of Representatives is the more powerful chamber of the Diet.<ref>Asia Times Online [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713235707/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/IG06Dh01.html Japan: A political tsunami approaches]. By Hisane Masaki. Published July 6, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> While the House of Representatives cannot usually overrule the House of Councillors on a bill, the House of Councillors can only delay the adoption of a budget or a treaty that has been approved by the House of Representatives, and the House of Councillors has almost no power at all to prevent the lower house from selecting any Prime Minister it wishes. Furthermore, once appointed it is the confidence of the House of Representatives alone that the Prime Minister must enjoy in order to continue in office. The House of Representatives can overrule the upper house in the following circumstances:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diet-Japanese-government|title=Diet {{!}} Japanese government|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=August 22, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119145411/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diet-Japanese-government|url-status=live}}</ref>
* If a bill is adopted by the House of Representatives and then either rejected, amended or not approved within 60 days by the House of Councillors, then the bill will become law if again adopted by the House of Representatives by a majority of at least two-thirds of members present.<ref name="disagree">House of Representatives of Japan [https://web.archive.org/web/20020617093433/http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_english.nsf/html/statics/guide/disagree.htm Disagreement between the Two Houses]. Retrieved July 14, 2007.</ref>
* If both houses cannot agree on a budget or a treaty, even through the appointment of a joint committee of the Diet, or if the House of Councillors fails to take final action on a proposed budget or treaty within 30 days of its approval by the House of Representatives, then the decision of the lower house is deemed to be that of the Diet.<ref name="disagree"/>
* If both houses cannot agree on a candidate for Prime Minister, even through a joint committee, or if the House of Councillors fails to designate a candidate within 10 days of House of Representatives' decision, then the nominee of the lower house is deemed to be that of the Diet.

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="National Diet Building Interior" heights="130px" per="" row="3">
File:Chamber_of_the_House_of_Representatives_of_Japan.jpg|House of Representatives
File:Japanese_diet_inside.jpg|House of Councillors
File:The_minister_room_at_the_National_Diet_Building.jpg|The waiting room adjacent to the Cabinet Room at the National Diet Building
</gallery>