Author Bio: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan did not have a specific author. This was due to the fact that it is more of a transcription of the commentaries on the constitution of the empire of japan, along with its subsequent articles.
Date/Context: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was created in the year 1889, which was the 22nd year of Meiji. The constitution was written in reaction to the Meiji Restoration, which provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, this was a new system based upon British and Prussian influences. This constitution set into motion new laws and provisions give the emperor more power. In other words, this document was conceived in order to help improve and stabilize the considerable political power that the Emperor would now hold over the people, including the cabinet, of Japan. Thus, this document called for Japan to become truly united under the new imperialistic rule of the Emperor.
Summary: The document begins with the imperial oath, which was sworn in the sanctuary of the imperial palace; stating that as the successors to the throne, they must continue to uphold the ideals of Japan, and consistently work for the benefit of all people. The document then goes on to also state that all power that the rulers hold is a gift from the ancestors and will uphold them to the best of their ability. In the first chapter, The Emperor, it states the provisions that the emperor must live under and do to keep his power, along with the roles the emperor must play, including control of the army. This essentially gives the emperor supreme power over the government. In the second chapter, Rights and Duties of Subjects, it states the conditions necessary to be a Japanese citizen and the rules and rights that apply to them. In the third chapter, the Imperial Diet, it details the way in which the government is to be structured; into two houses, a house of peers, and a house of representative, along with the members they will be composed of, and what they can control. In the fourth chapter, the Ministers of State and the Privy Council, which talks about what abilities the ministers and council will have over the state. The fifth chapter, the Judicature, details the courts of law and what they shall control within the ordinance of the emperor. In the sixth chapter, Finance, discusses the uses and controls over the federal tax system including the modification of rates or the creation of one, including the parameters involved. In the seventh chapter, supplementary rules, it includes reasoning and procedure behind how to add new information to the constitution and some extra rules on how the country is to be run. Overall, the Constitution explained the new rules and guidelines of the nation of Japan, the most important of which being the almost absolute control of the Emperor over the nation.
Date/Context: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was created in the year 1889, which was the 22nd year of Meiji. The constitution was written in reaction to the Meiji Restoration, which provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, this was a new system based upon British and Prussian influences. This constitution set into motion new laws and provisions give the emperor more power. In other words, this document was conceived in order to help improve and stabilize the considerable political power that the Emperor would now hold over the people, including the cabinet, of Japan. Thus, this document called for Japan to become truly united under the new imperialistic rule of the Emperor.
Summary: The document begins with the imperial oath, which was sworn in the sanctuary of the imperial palace; stating that as the successors to the throne, they must continue to uphold the ideals of Japan, and consistently work for the benefit of all people. The document then goes on to also state that all power that the rulers hold is a gift from the ancestors and will uphold them to the best of their ability. In the first chapter, The Emperor, it states the provisions that the emperor must live under and do to keep his power, along with the roles the emperor must play, including control of the army. This essentially gives the emperor supreme power over the government. In the second chapter, Rights and Duties of Subjects, it states the conditions necessary to be a Japanese citizen and the rules and rights that apply to them. In the third chapter, the Imperial Diet, it details the way in which the government is to be structured; into two houses, a house of peers, and a house of representative, along with the members they will be composed of, and what they can control. In the fourth chapter, the Ministers of State and the Privy Council, which talks about what abilities the ministers and council will have over the state. The fifth chapter, the Judicature, details the courts of law and what they shall control within the ordinance of the emperor. In the sixth chapter, Finance, discusses the uses and controls over the federal tax system including the modification of rates or the creation of one, including the parameters involved. In the seventh chapter, supplementary rules, it includes reasoning and procedure behind how to add new information to the constitution and some extra rules on how the country is to be run. Overall, the Constitution explained the new rules and guidelines of the nation of Japan, the most important of which being the almost absolute control of the Emperor over the nation.
Key Quotation: “Our Ministers of State, on our behalf, shall be held responsible for the carrying out of the present Constitution, and our present and future subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present Constitution.”
Identifying characteristics: Who: As Ben has stated, the document was more of a commentary on the constitution so there is no specific author. The transcript includes the Emperor should be sacred, and an entire section on how the Emperor has basically all the power in Japan. Then the transcript goes on to state the regulations a subject in Japan must follow. It also states the minister regulations, and Judicature regulations. When: This document is from the 22nd year of Meiji, 1889 Where: The title of the document is called the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, so the viewer can clearly see the document is from the higher power in Japan.
ReplyDeleteConstructive feedback: Overall, the commentary is strong, and it mentions all the different parts of the Constitution of Japan. Some parts of the commentary, such as the part when Ben mentioned the section of the rights and regulations of the citizens, could have benefited from at least one specific example from the document. I found that the citizen regulation section could have benefited the most, because the reader could just see the overall mood of the regulations. Other than that, the commentary clearly states the overall ideas stated in the constitution. The key quotation in the commentary is a good choice, because it shows how the Ministers of State will carry out the ideas of the Constitution.