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    "localId": "486500942",
    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Japan, Situation Report 38",
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    "id": "486500942",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500942",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Japan, Situation Report 38",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500942",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Intelligence Files"
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 14,
            "logicalDate": "1948-09-14",
            "month": 9,
            "year": 1948
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{
    "seq": 17,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875514/875514-01-017.tif",
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    "ocrText": "SECRET\nAs the Cabinet is responsible to the Diet, the latter ultimately controls state\npolicy. The balance of power within the Diet lies with the House of Representatives;\nthe budget must first be introduced in the lower house; in the event of disagreement\nbetween the two houses on budget or treaties the decision of the lower house prevails;\nin the event the two houses differ on matters of ordinary legislation the lower house\nmay by a 2/3 vote pass the legislation over the House of Councillors. In addition,\na vote of no-confidence in the House of Representatives requires that the Cabinet either\nresign or dissolve the lower house within 10 days. The House of Councillors is closed\nat any time the lower house is dissolved and may be convoked by the Cabinet in the\nevent of national emergency. Any measures taken by the upper house during an\nemergency session become null and void unless approved by the House of Represent-\natives within ten days after the opening of the next Diet session. Ordinary sessions\nof the Diet must be convoked once a year but extraordinary sessions may be called\neither upon demand of 1/4 of the membership of either House or by the Cabinet.\nThe organization and procedures of the Japanese Diet combine elements from\nboth the American and British, as well as previous Japanese parliamentary practices.\nCabinet members are required to answer interpellation either in person before the\nhouses or in writing and they may appear voluntarily before the houses to speak on\nlegislation. Each house may conduct investigations demanding the presence and\ntestimony of witnesses. The Diet has authority to institute impeachment proceedings\nagainst judges. The consideration of legislation by the Diet is carried on primarily\nby standing and special committees.\ne. The Executive.\n(1) The Emperor.\nThe Emperor is a virtual figurehead, his position being somewhat am-\nbiguously described as a \"symbol of State and the unity of the people, deriving his\nposition from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power.\" The Cab-\ninet must advise and approve as well as bear responsibility for all acts of the Emperor\nin \"matters of State.\" The Emperor is further limited to those functions (i.e., mat-\nters of State) specified in the Constitution such as promulgation of laws and treaties,\nconvocation of the Diet and dissolution of the House of Representatives, attestation\nand dismissal of State Ministers and other officials, attestation of amnesty and re-\nprieve and receiving foreign ambassadors.\nWithout the Diet's approval no gift may be given to or received by the\nImperial House. Imperial Household property now belongs to the State and the\nexpenses of the Imperial Household must be appropriated by the Diet in the budget.\nDespite the obvious veneration of the Japanese people for the throne, there appear\nto have been no attempts, to date, to extend the carefully limited power of the Em-\nperor.\n(2) The Cabinet.\nUnder the new Constitution the Cabinet is responsible to the Diet from\nwhich body the Prime Minister and a majority of the Ministers must be selected.\nI-7"
}