The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889

pages

English

Documents

2010

Écrit par
Japan

Publié par
shewyig

Lire

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe Tout savoir sur nos offres

pages

English

Documents

2010

Lire

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe Tout savoir sur nos offres

Publié par

shewyig

Publié le

01 décembre 2010

Nombre de lectures

Langue

English

Project Gutenberg's The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889, by JapanThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889Author: JapanPosting Date: July 26, 2008 [EBook #613] Release Date: August, 1996Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN, 1889 ***CONSTITUTION OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN, 1889Imperial Oath Sworn in the Sanctuary in the Imperial Palace(Tsuge-bumi)We, the Successor to the prosperous Throne of Our Predecessors, do humbly and solemnly swear to the ImperialFounder of Our House and to Our other Imperial Ancestors that, in pursuance of a great policy co-extensive with theHeavens and with the Earth, We shall maintain and secure from decline the ancient form of government.In consideration of the progressive tendency of the course of human affairs and in parallel with the advance of civilization,We deem it expedient, in order to give clearness and distinctness to the instructions bequeathed by the Imperial Founderof Our House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors, to establish fundamental laws formulated into express provisions oflaw, so that, on the one hand, Our Imperial posterity may possess an express guide for the course they are to follow, andthat, on the ...

Voir

Publié par

shewyig

Publié le

01 décembre 2010

Langue

English

CONSTITUTION OF THEEMPIRE OF JAPAN,9881Imperial Oath Sworn in the Sanctuary in theImperial Palace(Tsuge-bumi)We, the Successor to the prosperous Throne ofOur Predecessors, do humbly and solemnly swearto the Imperial Founder of Our House and to Ourother Imperial Ancestors that, in pursuance of agreat policy co-extensive with the Heavens andwith the Earth, We shall maintain and secure fromdecline the ancient form of government.Icno ucrosnes iodf ehrautimoan n ofa ftfhaier sp raongdr eins spivaer atlleenl dweitnhc yt hoef the

advance of civilization, We deem it expedient, inorder to give clearness and distinctness to theinstructions bequeathed by the Imperial Founder ofOur House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors, toestablish fundamental laws formulated into expressprovisions of law, so that, on the one hand, OurImperial posterity may possess an express guidefor the course they are to follow, and that, on theother, Our subjects shall thereby be enabled toenjoy a wider range of action in giving Us theirsupport, and that the observance of Our laws shallcontinue to the remotest ages of time. We willthereby to give greater firmness to the stability ofOur country and to promote the welfare of all thepeople within the boundaries of Our dominions;and We now establish the Imperial House Law andthe Constitution. These Laws come to only anexposition of grand precepts for the conduct of thegovernment, bequeathed by the Imperial Founderof Our House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors.That we have been so fortunate in Our reign, inkeeping with the tendency of the times, as toaccomplish this work, We owe to the gloriousSpirits of the Imperial Founder of Our House andof Our other Imperial Ancestors.We now reverently make Our prayer to Them andto Our Illustrious Father, and implore the help ofTheir Sacred Spirits, and make to Them solemnoath never at this time nor in the future to fail to bean example to our subjects in the observance ofthe Laws hereby established.May the heavenly Spirits witness this Our solemn

O.htaImperial Rescript on the Promulgation of theConstitutionWhereas We make it the joy and glory of Our heartto behold the prosperity of Our country, and thewelfare of Our subjects, We do hereby, in virtue ofthe Supreme power We inherit from Our ImperialAncestors, promulgate the present immutablefundamental law, for the sake of Our presentsubjects and their descendants.The Imperial Founder of Our House and Our otherImperial ancestors, by the help and support of theforefathers of Our subjects, laid the foundation ofOur Empire upon a basis, which is to last forever.That this brilliant achievement embellishes theannals of Our country, is due to the glorious virtuesof Our Sacred Imperial ancestors, and to theloyalty and bravery of Our subjects, their love oftheir country and their public spirit. Consideringthat Our subjects are the descendants of the loyaland good subjects of Our Imperial Ancestors, Wedoubt not but that Our subjects will be guided byOur views, and will sympathize with all Ourendeavors, and that, harmoniously cooperatingtogether, they will share with Us Our hope ofmaking manifest the glory of Our country, both athome and abroad, and of securing forever thestability of the work bequeathed to Us by OurImperial Ancestors.

Preamble [or Edict] (Joyu)Having, by virtue of the glories of Our Ancestors,ascended the throne of a lineal successionunbroken for ages eternal; desiring to promote thewelfare of, and to give development to the moraland intellectual faculties of Our beloved subjects,the very same that have been favored with thebenevolent care and affectionate vigilance of OurAncestors; and hoping to maintain the prosperity ofthe State, in concert with Our people and with theirsupport, We hereby promulgate, in pursuance ofOur Imperial Rescript of the 12th day of the 10thmonth of the 14th year of Meiji, a fundamental lawof the State, to exhibit the principles, by which Weare guided in Our conduct, and to point out to whatOur descendants and Our subjects and theirdescendants are forever to conform.The right of sovereignty of the State, We haveinherited from Our Ancestors, and We shallbequeath them to Our descendants. Neither Wenor they shall in the future fail to wield them, inaccordance with the provisions of the Constitutionhereby granted.We now declare to respect and protect the securityof the rights and of the property of Our people, andto secure to them the complete enjoyment of thesame, within the extent of the provisions of thepresent Constitution and of the law.The Imperial Diet shall first be convoked for the

23rd year of Meiji and the time of its opening shallbe the date, when the present Constitution comesinto force.When in the future it may become necessary toamend any of the provisions of the presentConstitution, We or Our successors shall assumethe initiative right, and submit a project for thesame to the Imperial Diet. The Imperial Diet shallpass its vote upon it, according to the conditionsimposed by the present Constitution, and in nootherwise shall Our descendants or Our subjectsbe permitted to attempt any alteration thereof.Our Ministers of State, on Our behalf, shall be heldresponsible for the carrying out of the presentConstitution, and Our present and future subjectsshall forever assume the duty of allegiance to thepresent Constitution.CHAPTER I. THE EMPEROR Article 1. The Empire of Japan shall be reignedover andgoverned by a line of Emperors unbroken for ageseternal. Article 2. The Imperial Throne shall besucceeded to byImperial male descendants, according to theprovisions of theImperial House Law.

Article 3. The Emperor is sacred and inviolable.Article 4. The Emperor is the head of the Empire,ceoxemrbciinsiensg tihne Hmi,m asceclfo trhdien rgi gtoh ttsh oef psroovviesrieoingsn toyf, tahnedpresent Constitution. Article 5. The Emperor exercises the legislativepower withthe consent of the Imperial Diet. Article 6. The Emperor gives sanction to laws,and ordersthem to be promulgated and executed.Article 7. The Emperor convokes the Imperial Diet,opens, closes, and prorogues it, and dissolves theHouse of Representatives.Article 8. The Emperor, in consequence of anurgent necessity to maintain public safety or toavert public calamities, issues, when the ImperialDiet is not sitting, Imperial ordinances in the placeof law.(2) Such Imperial Ordinances are to be laid beforethe Imperial Diet at its next session, and when theDiet does not approve the said Ordinances, theGovernment shall declare them to be invalid for thefuture.Article 9. The Emperor issues or causes to beissued, the Ordinances necessary for the carryingout of the laws, or for the maintenance of the

public peace and order, and for the promotion ofthe welfare of the subjects. But no Ordinance shallin any way alter any of the existing laws.Article 10. The Emperor determines theorganization of the different branches of theadministration, and salaries of all civil and militaryofficers, and appoints and dismisses the same.Exceptions especially provided for in the presentConstitution or in other laws, shall be inaccordance with the respective provisions (bearingthereon). Article 11. The Emperor has the supremecommand of the Armyand Navy. Article 12. The Emperor determines theorganization andpeace standing of the Army and Navy. Article 13. The Emperor declares war, makespeace, andconcludes treaties.Article 14. The Emperor declares a state of siege. (2) The conditions and effects of a state ofsiege shall bedetermined by law. Article 15. The Emperor confers titles ofnobility, rank,orders and other marks of honor.

Article 16. The Emperor orders amnesty,pardon, commutationof punishments and rehabilitation. Article 17. A Regency shall be instituted inconformity withthe provisions of the Imperial House Law. (2) The Regent shall exercise the powersappertaining to theEmperor in His name.CHAPTER II. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OFSUBJECTSArticle 18. The conditions necessary forbeing a Japanese subject shall bedetermined by law.Article 19. Japanese subjects may, according toaqpupaloifiinctaetido tnos cdiveitl eorr mimnileitda riyn loar wasn yo r ootrhdeirn apnucbleics, beoffices equally. Article 20. Japanese subjects are amenable toservice in theArmy or Navy, according to the provisions of law. Article 21. Japanese subjects are amenable tothe duty ofpaying taxes, according to the provisions of law.

Article 22. Japanese subjects shall have theliberty ofabode and of changing the same within the limits ofthe law. Article 23. No Japanese subject shall bearrested, detained,tried or punished, unless according to law. Article 24. No Japanese subject shall bedeprived of hisright of being tried by the judges determined by.walArticle 25. Except in the cases provided for in thelaw, the house of no Japanese subject shall beentered or searched without his consent.Article 26. Except in the cases mentioned in thelaw, the secrecy of the letters of every Japanesesubject shall remain inviolate. Article 27. The right of property of everyJapanese subjectshall remain inviolate. (2) Measures necessary to be taken for thepublic benefitshall be any provided for by law.pArrteijculdei c2i8al. tJoa ppaenacees ea snud bojerdctesr ,s ahnaldl, nwoitt hainn tliamgiotnsi sntoictto their duties as subjects, enjoy freedom ofreligious belief.

Voir