Diet of Japan
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This article is about the Japanese legislature. For information on Japanese food, see Japanese cuisine.
"Kokkai" redirects here. For the Sumo wrestler from Georgia, see Kokkai Futoshi.
"The Diet" redirects here. For the Beetle Bailey animated short, see The Diet (cartoon). National Diet of Japan
国会
Kokkai | The 174th Ordinary Session | Type | Type | Bicameral | Houses | House of Representatives
House of Councillors | Leadership | Speaker of the House of Representatives | Takahiro Yokomichi, DPJ since September 16, 2009 | President of the Councillors | Satsuki Eda, DPJ since August 7, 2007 | Structure | Members | 722
480 (House of Representatives)
242 (House of Councillors) | House of Representatives Political groups | Democratic Party (311)
Liberal Democratic Party (118)
Komeito Party (21)
Communist Party (9)
Social Democratic Party (7)
Your Party (5)
People's New Party (3)
Independents / Others (6)
[1] | House of Councillors (or Chancellors) Political groups | Democratic Party, Shin-Ryokufukai, People's New Party and New Party Nippon (118)
Liberal Democratic Party (81)
Komeito Party (21)
Communist Party (7)
Social Democratic Party (5)
Japan Renaissance Party (4)
Independents (5)
Vacancies (1) [2] | Election | House of Representatives Last election | August 30, 2009 (45th) | House of Councillors (or Chancellors) Last election | July 29, 2007 (21st) | Meeting place | National Diet Building, Nagatachō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo | Website | House of Representatives - official website
House of Councillors - official website |

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The National Diet of Japan (国会, Kokkai?) is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors (or Chancellors). Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally responsible for selecting the Prime Minister. The Diet was first convened as the Imperial Diet in 1889 as a result of adopting the Meiji constitution. The Diet took its current form in 1947 upon the adoption of the postwar constitution and is considered by the Constitution to be the highest organ of state power. The National Diet Building is located in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Contents[hide] * 1 Composition * 2 Powers * 3 Activities * 4 History * 5 See also * 6 References * 7 External links |
[edit] Composition
See also: Elections in Japan and List of members of the Diet of Japan
The houses of the diet are elected under a parallel voting system. This means that the seats to be filled in any given election are divided into two groups, each elected by a different method; the main difference between the houses is in the sizes of the two groups and how they are elected. Voters are also asked to cast two votes: one for an individual candidate in a constituency, and one for a party list.