House of Representatives (Japan)

House Of Representatives (Japan)

Coordinates: 35°40′30.6″N 139°44′41.8″E / 35.675167°N 139.744944°E / 35.675167; 139.744944

House of Representatives
衆議院
Shūgiin
The 45th House of Representatives
Type
Type Lower house
Leadership
Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi, DPJ
since September 16, 2009
Vice-Speaker Seishirō Etō, LDP
since September 16, 2009
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, DPJ
since August 31, 2011
Opposition Leader Shinzō Abe, LDP
since September 26, 2012
Structure
Seats 480
Political groups DPJ/Club of Independents (306) LDP (118) Kōmeitō (21) JCP (9) SDP/Shimin Rengō (6) YP (5) PNP/NPN (4) SPJ (2) former "Hiranuma group" (2) Independents (6) Vacant (1)
Elections
Voting system Parallel voting:
First past the post (300 seats)
Party-list proportional representation (180 seats)
Last election August 30, 2009
Meeting place
The House of Representatives Chamber
Website
www.shugiin.go.jp
Japan
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Japan
Constitution
  • Constitution (history)
Emperor
  • Emperor (List)
    • Akihito
  • Imperial Household Agency
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  • House of Representatives
  • House of Councillors
Government
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    • Yoshihiko Noda
  • Cabinet
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Judiciary
  • Judicial system
Prefectures
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    • Governors (list)
Elections
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  • House of Councillors
    • 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010
  • House of Representatives:
    • 2003, 2005, 2009, Next
Political parties
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    • Democratic
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Foreign relations
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The House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgiin?) is the lower house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors is the upper house.

The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation, and 300 are elected from single-member constituencies. 241 seats are required for majority.

The overall voting system used to elect the House of Representatives is a parallel system, not a form of proportional representation. Under a parallel system the allocation of list seats does not take into account the outcome in the single seat constituencies. Therefore the overall allocation of seats in the House of Representatives is not proportional, to the advantage of larger parties. In contrast, in bodies such as the German Bundestag the election of single-seat members and party list members is linked, so that the overall result respects proportional representation.

The House of Representatives is the more powerful of the two houses, able to override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority. It can be dissolved by the Prime Minister at will, as it was by Taro Aso on July 21, 2009.

Read more about House Of Representatives (Japan):  Right To Vote and Candidature, Differences Between The Upper and Lower Houses, Current Composition, Latest Election Result, Election Results For Major Parties Since 1960

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