Political Structures
What is a constitution?
A set of rules or “rule book” that outlines how a country is governed.
What law expanded voting rights in Japan in 1925?
The Universal Manhood Suffrage Law.
Name one major political party in Japan before 1927.
Rikken Seiyūkai OR Kenseikai.
What does “kokutai” roughly mean?
The “essence” or national identity of Japan.
Name one group that challenged political parties in the 1920s.
The genrō, bureaucracy, army, or zaibatsu.
What was the name of the Japanese parliament under the Meiji Constitution?
The Imperial Diet.
Who gained the right to vote under the 1925 suffrage law?
Men over the age of 25.
Which party later merged into the Minseitō in 1927?
The Kenseikai.
What did kokutai emphasise in Japanese society?
Loyalty, unity, and the divine authority of the Emperor.
Why did the Emperor remain a challenge to party government?
Because sovereignty rested with the Emperor under the Meiji Constitution.
Who appointed the Prime Minister under the Meiji Constitution?
The Emperor (often advised by the genrō).
Why is Japanese democracy in the 1920s described as “limited”?
Because political power still rested with the Emperor, elites, and the military.
Which party was generally more conservative and closely linked to elites?
The Seiyūkai.
Which law was designed to protect kokutai?
The Peace Preservation Law (1925).
Why did the military challenge party government?
Because it reported directly to the Emperor and was not controlled by parliament.
Who did the Army and Navy ministers report directly to?
The Emperor.
Why did expanding voting rights not lead to full democracy?
Because the cabinet and military were not controlled by parliament.
Which party introduced reforms that were democratic in nature during the Taishō period?
The Kenseikai.
What kinds of ideas did the Peace Preservation Law criminalise?
Attempts to alter kokutai or abolish private property.
How did the Meiji Constitution weaken political parties’ ability to govern?
It allowed unelected elites and the military to override parliamentary decisions
Why did the structure of the Meiji Constitution limit the power of political parties?
Because sovereignty rested with the Emperor and the cabinet and military were not accountable to the Diet.
What contradiction existed between suffrage expansion and political repression in 1925?
Democracy expanded while the Peace Preservation Law restricted political freedoms.
Why were political parties unable to fully control government policy?
Because the Emperor, bureaucracy, and military could override parliamentary authority
Why did even democratic political parties support the Peace Preservation Law?
To maintain order, protect imperial authority, and prevent radical movements.
Which factor posed the greatest challenge to party government in the 1920s: the Emperor, the military, or the constitution? Explain briefly.
The military / Emperor / Constitution — because they operated independently of the Diet and limited democratic control.