National Congress of Japan (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

The National Congress of Japan (国民代表大会 Kokumin Daihyō Taikai) is the unicameral highest state body of Japan. The Congress created by the adoption of the 1931 Constitution. The Congress predecessor in Japanese Civil War era was the National People’s Conference of Japan (全国人民代表会議 Zenkoku Jinmin Daihyō Kaigi).

The National Congress cannot described as the national parliament of Japan since its have very little legislative powers and co-exists with the consultative meeting of the Legislative Council and the State Council, or more known as Kyogi-sokai (協議総会). The real legislative functions in Japan provided by the Legislative Council where its members chosen from among the Congress members every one year.

Elections
According to 1931 Constitution, all Japanese nationals above 25 are eligible to be elected to the Congress and vote in elections. The Congress elections are applying the unique, universal and direct suffrage.

Before the World War II, the National Front selects all Congress member candidates and their names can only go on the ballot paper with the approval of the National Front. Every candidate will participates in election under single candidates list issued by the Front.

The 1946 amendment of the Constitution permitted the Front parties and the independents to run their own candidates list in the election. Even the ruling party, Nationalist Party, can have two or three Party lists: one list run officially by the Party by the decision from Party Congress and another list(s) run by the Party inner opposition to the ruling majority in the Party Congress.

Functions and powers
The 1931 Constitution of Japan describes the National Congress as the Japan’s highest state body. The Congress have several important functions, such as to elect the President of the Republic, to amend or to adopt the Constitution, to adopt the general state policies of Japan, to adopt the national budget, and to hear the President’s New Year Speech

The Congress also serves as constitutional counterbalance for President’s executive powers. President must have the Congress permission to execute his/her power, such as to appoint the members of the Council of the Ministers, to declare a war or to make a peace, to grant an amnesty, pardon and clemency, to ratify the treaties with other country, to declare a martial law and to confer a honors and decorations. The Congress can veto every President decisions, but the President cannot do the opposite.

Before 1946 amendment, Congress only had a function to approve the Council of Ministers formation which already appointed by the President. However, the 1946 amendment gave Congress the right to veto for those appointments and even the right to issue a vote of no confidence. The vote of no confidence can effective when approved by more than two thirds of the number of representatives.

The Congress is assembling the convocation once or twice a year in regular sessions of several days each. The Congress electing the Legislative Council to provide day-to-day legislative functions. Extraordinary sessions of the Congress can also meet when called by the Legislative Council, by the President or by Kyogi Sokai.