Meiji Constitution
Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
The Meiji Constitution was Japan's first modern constitution, made in 1889. It set up a parliament called the Diet, which is a German loan-word. Only a small group of men could vote, and the Diet had limited powers. From 1890, the army and navy had independent command under the emperor, outside cabinet control. This weakness later helped the military take over policy. The constitution came partly because of pressure from the Popular Rights Movement.
Example
Under this constitution, party cabinets governed from 1918 to 1931. After that they gave way to "national unity" cabinets, as the army grew stronger.
Don't confuse with
- Post-war constitution (1946–47): The 1889 constitution kept the military under the emperor. The constitution made during the US Occupation gave up war through Article 9, the "no war clause", and gave women the vote.
Related concepts
- Meiji economic modernisation
- Zaibatsu
- Tanaka Shozo
- Ashio mine pollution
- Fukuzawa Yukichi
- Popular Rights Movement