什麼是明治憲法

起自1890年迄至1947年的日本憲法。明治維新（Meiji Restoration）開始後，日本的領導階層試圖創立一部憲法，以使日本成為一個值得西方國家敬重的有力的現代國家，而他們的權利也不會因此有所動搖。如此產生出來的文獻要求成立一個兩院制的國會（the Diet），其中眾議院由人民選出，而首相及內閣則由天皇任命。天皇被賦予軍隊與水師的最高指揮權。由明治的元老們（參閱genro）所組成的樞密院位於憲法之上，輔佐天皇並掌控實際的權力。在投票的限制方面，原先只有大約百分之五的成年男性人口成為合格選民，然而在後來的二十五年裡逐漸放寬，最後則普遍及於所有成年男性。各政黨於1920年代將他們有限的權力發揮得淋漓盡致，不過到了1930年代軍方卻能夠在不破壞憲法的情況下攫取政權。第二次世界大戰後，在美國的參贊下，標榜「主權在民」的新憲法取代了明治憲法。亦請參閱Ito Hirobumi、Taisho democracy。

Meiji Constitution

Constitution of Japan from 1890 to 1947. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan's leaders sought to create a constitution that would define Japan as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect while preserving their own power. The resultant document called for a bicameral parliament (the Diet) with an elected lower house and a prime minister and cabinet appointed by the emperor. The emperor was granted supreme control of the army and navy. A privy council composed of the Meiji leaders (see genro), created prior to the constitution, advised the emperor and wielded actual power. Voting restrictions, which limited the electorate to about 5% of the adult male population, were loosened over the next 25 years, resulting in universal male suffrage. Political parties made the most of their limited power in the 1920s, but in the 1930s the military was able to exert control without violating the constitution. After World War II, a U.S.-approved constitution stating that "sovereign power resides with the people" replaced the Meiji Constitution. See also Ito Hirobumi, Taisho democracy.