Conventional Long Form: NONE
Capital City: Tokyo Type of Government: a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy Date of Independence: 3 May 1947 National Holiday: Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933) Chief of State: Emperor AKIHITO Head of Government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE, Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO
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Description Of Executive Branch/Powers:
The Executive Branch is ran by Emperor AKIHITO with the help of Prime Minister Shinzo ABE and Minister Taro Aso. The cabinet is appointed by the prime minister. The leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually become prime minister. Constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority. Description Of Legislative Branch/Powers: Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in which has 242 seats - members elected for fixed six-year terms; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation are half elected every three years. The house of Representatives or Shugi-in has 480 seats - members elected for maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs. The prime minster has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with concurrence of the cabinet. Elections for the House of Councillors was last held on 11 July 2010 and the next expected election will be held on July 2013. Also elections for the House of Representatives was last held on 16 December 2012 and the next expected one will be held on 15 December 2016. Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: The chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet. |
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Name of Ambassor to the U.S.: Ambassador Kenichiro SASAE Location of Embassy in the U.S.: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Location of consulate in the U.S.: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detriot, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle, and Nashville Name of U.S. Ambassador: John V. ROOS Location of U.S. Embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 Location of U.S. consulate: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo, and Nagoya Name of Representative in UN: NONE Flag: White with a large red disk, representing the sun without rays, in the center.
National Symbol: red sun disc, chrysanthemum
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