Sources of law[edit]
The Diet is Japan's national legislature, responsible for enacting new laws.
The present national authorities and legal system are constituted by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1946 after the Second World War. The Japanese Constitution contains thirty-one articles relating to human rights and providing for the separation of powers vested in three independent bodies: the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.[12]
The National Diet of Japan is the bicameral supreme legislative body in Japan, consisting of the Sangi-In (the upper house) and Shuugi-In (the lower house). Article 41 of the Constitution provides that "the Diet shall be the highest organ of state power, and shall be the sole law-making organ of the State." Statutory law originates in the National Diet, with the approval of the Emperor as a formality. Under the current constitution, the Emperor does not have the power to veto or otherwise refuse to approve a law passed by the Diet.[13]
The Japanese judiciary consists on a Supreme Court, eight high courts and fifty district and family courts. For less serious crimes (punishable by a fine or lesser punishment) and civil suits (involving claims not exceeding 900,000 yen), 448 summary courts have jurisdiction.