6. National Diet: legislative power 国会（立法権）

The Role and Position of the Diet 国会の役割と地位

• Highest Organ of State Power　国権の最高機関
  (Article 41.) The Diet shall be the “[highest organ] of state power”, and shall be the “sole law-making organ”.
  国会は、「国権の（　最高機関　）」であり、「唯一の立法機関」です。
• Sole Law-Making Organ　唯一の立法機関
  The Diet shall be the “highest organ of state power”, and shall be the “sole [law-making organ] “. The authority held by the Diet is referred to as “legislative power”.
  国会は、「国権の最高機関」であり、「唯一の（　立法機関　）」です。国会のもつ権限を「立法権」といいます。

Sessions of the Diet 国会の会期

• Ordinary Session　常会
  The regular session of the Diet, which is convened once each year(annually) in January, is known as the [ordinary session].
  毎年1回、1月中に召集される国会を（　常会（通常国会）　）といいます。
• Extraordinary Session　臨時会
  “The [extraordinary session] of the Diet is convened when the Cabinet deems it necessary, or when a request is made by a quarter or more of the total membership of either House.”
  内閣が必要と認めたときや、いずれかの議院の総議員の4分の1以上の要求があった場合に召集される国会を（　臨時会（臨時国会）　）といいます。
• Special Session　特別会
  The [special session] of the Diet is convened within 30 days from the day of a general election of the House of Representatives.
  衆議院解散後の総選挙の日から、「30日」以内に召集される国会を（　特別会（特別国会）　）といいます。
• Emergency Session　緊急集会
  During the dissolution of the House of Representatives, an [emergency session] of the House of Councillors may be held on the request of the Cabinet in case of emergency.
  衆議院の解散中、緊急の必要があるときに、内閣の求めによって「参議院の（　緊急集会　）」を開くことができます。

House of Representatives and House of Councillors 衆議院と参議院

• Bicameral System　二院制
  The Diet of Japan consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. This system is known as [Bicameral system (bicameralism)].
  日本の国会は、「衆議院」と「参議院」で構成されています。このしくみを（　二院制（両院制）　）といいます。
• The House of Representatives’ Term :4 Years　衆議院の任期は4年
  The House of Representatives consists of 465 members (289 from single-seat constituencies, 176 from proportional representation), and their term of office is [4 years].
  衆議院の議員数は「465人」（小選挙区289人、比例代表176人）で、任期は（　4　年　）です。
• Dissolved　解散
  The House of Representatives [can be “dissolved”].
  衆議院には（　解散が あります　）。
• (House of Representatives) Eligibility Age for Election:25 Years Old　被選挙権は25歳以上
  The “eligibility age for election” to the House of Representatives is [25 years old].
  衆議院の「被選挙権」は（　25　歳　）以上です。
• The House of Councillors’ Term:6 Years　参議院の任期は6年
  The House of Councillors consists of 248 members (148 from electoral districts, 100 from proportional representation), and their term of office is [6 years].
  参議院の議員数は「248人」（選挙区148人、比例代表100人）で、任期は（　6年　）です。
• Half Elected Every 3 Years　3年ごとに半数が改選
  “Half” of the members of the “House of Councillors” are elected every [3years].
  「参議院」議員は、（　3年　）ごとに、全体の「半数」ずつが改選されます。
• (House of Councillors)Eligibility Age for Election:30 Years Old　被選挙権は30歳以上
  The “eligibility age for election” to the House of Councillors is [30 years old].
  参議院の「被選挙権」は（　30歳　）以上です。

Roles of the Diet　国会の仕事

• Laws　法律
  The Diet “enacts” [laws].
  国会は（　法律　）の「制定」（立法）を行います。
• Budget　予算
  The Diet “deliberates and decides” on the [budget].
  国会は（　予算　）の「審議・議決」を行います。
• Prime Minister　内閣総理大臣
  The Diet “designates” the [Prime Minister].
  国会は（　内閣総理大臣　）の「指名」を行います。
• Treaties　条約
  The Diet “approves” [treaties].
  国会は（　条約　）の「承認」を行います。
• Amendments to the Constitution　憲法改正
  The Diet “initiates” [amendments to the Constitution].
  国会は（　憲法改正　）の「発議」を行います。
• Impeachment Court　弾劾裁判所
  The Diet “establishes” the [impeachment court].
  国会は（　弾劾裁判所　）の「設置」を行います。
• Right of Investigation in Relation to Government　国政調査権
  The Diet has the [right of investigation in relation to government] and has the power to investigate across a range of political issues.
  国会は（　国政調査権　）を持ち、政治全般について調査を行うことができます。

Law-making Process　法律の成立プロセス

• Member of the Diet　国会議員
  A [member of the Diet] or the Cabinet presents a “bill” to the “presiding officer.”
  （　国会議員　）または内閣が「法律案」を「議長」に提出します。
• Committee　委員会
  The bill is deliberated in a [committee]. “Public hearings” may also be held to listen to opinions from outside.
  提出された法律案は、（　委員会　）で審議されます。「公聴会」で外部の意見を聞く場合もあります。
• Plenary Session　本会議
  After being passed in the committee, the bill is then deliberated in a [plenary session].
  委員会で可決された場合、続いて（　本会議　）で審議されます。
• Quorum: One-Third or More of the Total Membership　定足数は総議員の３分の１以上
  The “quorum” for a session is [one-third or more of the total membership].
  本会議の「定足数」は（　総議員の３分の１以上　）です。
• Majority of Those Present　出席議員の過半数
  A decision is passed by a [majority of those present].
  議決は（　出席議員の過半数　）で可決となります。
• Joint Committee of Both Houses　両院協議会
  If the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors have different decisions, a [joint committee of both Houses] may be held.
  衆議院と参議院で議決が異なった場合は（　両院協議会　）による協議が行われる場合があります。
• Two-Thirds Majority of Those Present　出席議員の３分の２以上
  If the joint committee does not reach agreement, the bill can be “passed into law” by a [two-thirds majority of those present] in the “House of Representatives. ”
  この両院協議会で意見がまとまらない場合は、「衆議院」で（　出席議員の３分の２以上　）の多数で再可決すれば、法律は「成立」します。
• Promulgated by the Emperor　天皇が公布
  The law, once enacted, is “promulgated” by the [Emperor].
  成立した法律は（　天皇　）が「公布」します。

Supremacy of the House of Representatives　衆議院の優越

• Cabinet　内閣
  The [cabinet] drafts the budget bill.
  予算案は（　内閣　）が作成します。
• Right of First Deliberation on the Budget　予算の先議権
  The budget is always deliberated first in the [House of Representatives] (right of first deliberation on the budget).
  予算はかならず（　衆議院　）が先に審議します（予算の先議権）。
• Supremacy of the House of Representatives　衆議院の優越
  The House of Representatives has greater powers than the House of Councillors. This is known as the [supremacy of the House of Representatives].
  衆議院は参議院よりも大きな権限をもちます。このことを（　衆議院の優越　）といいます。
• Dissolved　解散
  This supremacy is given to the House of Representatives because it can be [dissolved], has a shorter term, and is considered to be closer to the will of the people.
  衆議院の優越が衆議院に与えられているのは、衆議院は、（　解散　）があり、任期も短く、国民の意思に近いと考えられているからです。
• Budget Decisions　予算の議決
  Other instances of the supremacy of the House of Representatives include decisions on “laws,” [budget decisions], “designations of the Prime Minister,” and “approvals of treaties.”
  衆議院の優越の例は他に、「法律案の議決」、（　予算の議決　）、「内閣総理大臣の指名」、「条約の承認」があります。
• Vote on a Bill　法律案の議決
  Among the cases where the supremacy of the House of Representatives is recognized, the decision of the House of Representatives becomes the decision of the Diet for everything except the [vote on a bill].
  衆議院の優越が認められているもののうち、（　法律案の議決　）以外は、衆議院の議決が国会の議決となります。
• Right to Pass a Resolution of Non-Confidence in the Cabinet　内閣不信任の決議権
  The powers exclusive to the House of Representatives are the “right of first deliberation on the budget” and the [right to pass a resolution of non-confidence in the cabinet].
  衆議院のみに認められている権限は「予算の先議権」（115）と（　内閣不信任の決議権　）です。

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