May 10, 2014
The House of Representatives on May 9 approved a bill to revise the National Referendum Law (the law on procedures for Amendment of the Japanese Constitution) by a majority vote of both ruling and opposition parties, other than the Japanese Communist and Social Democratic parties. The bill was sent to the House of Councilors.
Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates that a proposal for revising the supreme law can only be initiated with the support of at least two-thirds of the lawmakers in both chambers and must be endorsed by a majority in a national referendum. The revision bill’s purpose is to concrete the required procedures for constitutional amendment.
After the passage of the measure, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, also a Lower House member, commented as follows (summary):
The JCP strongly protests against the seven political parties ramming through the bill and resolves to do its utmost to kill the bill in the Upper House.
The revision bill has two major problems.
First, it intends to smooth the way for revising the Constitution, aiming to undermine the war-renouncing Article 9.
Every recent opinion poll indicates that a majority of the general public does not want a change in the Constitution. As to Article 9 in particular, more than 60% of respondents oppose revising it.
Secondly, the bill has grave defects in itself.
It fails to provide a minimum voter turnout required to validate a referendum. Under such a system, a proposal for constitutional amendment may be endorsed with the backing of just 10-20% of eligible voters. In addition, the draft law imposes a wide range of limits on public workers’ right to campaign in support for or opposition to a suggested constitutional revision.
We are determined to continue to struggle together with the public in order to stop the move for constitutional changes in the Diet.
Past related article:
> Who profits from the revision of National Referendum Law? [April 11, 2014]
Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates that a proposal for revising the supreme law can only be initiated with the support of at least two-thirds of the lawmakers in both chambers and must be endorsed by a majority in a national referendum. The revision bill’s purpose is to concrete the required procedures for constitutional amendment.
After the passage of the measure, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, also a Lower House member, commented as follows (summary):
The JCP strongly protests against the seven political parties ramming through the bill and resolves to do its utmost to kill the bill in the Upper House.
The revision bill has two major problems.
First, it intends to smooth the way for revising the Constitution, aiming to undermine the war-renouncing Article 9.
Every recent opinion poll indicates that a majority of the general public does not want a change in the Constitution. As to Article 9 in particular, more than 60% of respondents oppose revising it.
Secondly, the bill has grave defects in itself.
It fails to provide a minimum voter turnout required to validate a referendum. Under such a system, a proposal for constitutional amendment may be endorsed with the backing of just 10-20% of eligible voters. In addition, the draft law imposes a wide range of limits on public workers’ right to campaign in support for or opposition to a suggested constitutional revision.
We are determined to continue to struggle together with the public in order to stop the move for constitutional changes in the Diet.
Past related article:
> Who profits from the revision of National Referendum Law? [April 11, 2014]
