As in all constitutional democracies, in Japan the Constitution is the supreme law. All laws directly or indirectly affecting education must be in accord with the basic educational provisions of the Constitution. Statutes enacted by the National Diet, cabinet orders and ministerial ordinances constitute the legal basis for education.
The Basic Act on Education provides basic aims and principles, and other educational laws and regulations are made in accordance with the aims and principles of this law. Besides the Basic Act on Education, other major educational laws including the School Education Law dealing with the organization and management of the school system, the Social Education Law regulating the activities of social education, and the Law Concerning Organization and Functions of Local Educational Administration providing essential particulars on the system of local boards of education.
Cabinet orders are made to enforce the laws, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture publishes ministerial ordinances and notices concerning standards for establishing schools, curriculum standards such as the Courses of Study, and so on.