Governance with a Twist: How Bicameralism Affects Japanese Lawmaking

Thies, Michael; Yanai, Yuki

doi:10.1057/9781137346124_19

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…As such, the Sangiin has a strong suspensory veto that can effectively slow down legislation, lead the government to self‐restraint when drafting the bill, or force it to change or ‘kill the bill’ (Cox et al. ; Thies & Yanai ).…”

Section: Data and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, ruling parties have had to forge coalitions in order to prevent blockage of their bills in the Sangiin (Chen ). The failure rate as well as the share of amendments of government bills are substantially higher in twisted, compared to, unified diets (Thies & Yanai ). Sangiin members serve six‐year terms, with half renewed every three years, whereas members of the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, serve four‐year terms, although early dissolutions of the lower chamber regularly occur.…”

Section: Data and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The electoral connection in staggered parliaments: Evidence from Australia, France, Germany and Japan

Willumsen

Stecker

Goetz

2017

European J Political Res

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This article explores whether differential time horizons in legislative chambers that result from staggered membership renewal affect legislative behaviour. The analysis focuses on patterns of bill initiation and the introduction of amendments in the upper chambers of Australia, France, Germany and Japan – all four of which contain two or more classes of members that face re‐election at different times. Drawing on original comparative data, clear evidence is found of over‐time variation in legislative activity levels in the upper chambers. Approaching elections lead to increased activity levels, with increases in the introduction of bills, but also, to a lesser extent, amending activity. Such variation is found not only for those members facing the most proximate election, but for all members of the chamber. Importantly, there are no significant differences in legislative behaviour between those members up for re‐election and those not facing the electorate in the most proximate election. These patterns are interpreted tentatively as evidence of the paramount importance of political parties in parliamentary systems.

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Section: Data and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data and Research Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

The electoral connection in staggered parliaments: Evidence from Australia, France, Germany and Japan

Willumsen

Stecker

Goetz

2017

European J Political Res

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“…The 2010 Upper House election resulted in DPJ losing the majority there. The resulting twisted Diet undercut the effectiveness of the Kan and Noda Cabinets' policymaking severely (Thies & Yanai, ). Their bills could not sail through the parliament without opposition parties' cooperation.…”

Section: Analyzing Causes Of Dpj's Failurementioning

confidence: 99%

Unattainable Mission? The Democratic Party of Japan's Unsuccessful Policymaking System Reform

Mishima

2015

Asian Politics and Policy

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In December 2012, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) fell from power after ruling the country for only three years. An important cause of the DPJ government's downfall concerned its failure in policymaking system reform. When it came to power in September 2009, the DPJ vowed to dissolve the policymaking system created under the lengthy dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party. It pledged to practice “Cabinet‐led policymaking” by strengthening the Cabinet's leadership fundamentally. It also promised to curtail bureaucratic power. But in reality, the DPJ's policymaking system reform turned out to be an utter failure. This article points out that there are four major reasons for the DPJ government's failure in policymaking system reform: (i) lack of internal unity, (ii) ineffective top leadership, (iii) institutional depth of bureaucratic power, and (iv) the twisted Diet.

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Japanese Politics Between 2014 and 2017: The Search for an Opposition Party in the Age of Abe

Pekkanen

Reed

2018

Japan Decides 2017

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Governance with a Twist: How Bicameralism Affects Japanese Lawmaking

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

The electoral connection in staggered parliaments: Evidence from Australia, France, Germany and Japan

The electoral connection in staggered parliaments: Evidence from Australia, France, Germany and Japan

Unattainable Mission? The Democratic Party of Japan's Unsuccessful Policymaking System Reform

Japanese Politics Between 2014 and 2017: The Search for an Opposition Party in the Age of Abe

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