Article 59 of the Constitution of Japan

E91135

Article 59 of the Constitution of Japan is the provision that defines how the House of Representatives can override decisions of the House of Councillors in the legislative process, thereby establishing the lower house’s supremacy in passing laws.


Statements (39)
Predicate Object
instanceOf constitutional paragraph
constitutional paragraph
constitutional paragraph
constitutional provision
appliesTo House of Councillors
House of Representatives
chapter Chapter IV The Diet
clarifies relationship between the two Houses in ordinary legislation
country Japan
defines conditions for overriding decisions of the House of Councillors
procedure for passage of bills
distinguishesFrom Article 60 of the Constitution of Japan
doesNotApplyTo budget bills
designation of the Prime Minister
treaty approval
effectiveSince 3 May 1947
embodies principle of lower house supremacy in lawmaking
establishes 60-day rule for House of Councillors consideration of bills
supremacy of the House of Representatives in legislation
grantsPowerTo House of Representatives to enact a bill without consent of the House of Councillors under specified conditions
hasSection Article 59 paragraph 1
Article 59 paragraph 2
Article 59 paragraph 3
language Japanese
legalDomain constitutional law
partOf Constitution of Japan
providesThat a bill becomes law on passage by both Houses except as otherwise provided by the Constitution
a bill becomes law upon passage by both Houses except as otherwise provided by the Constitution
a bill passed by the House of Representatives and rejected by the House of Councillors may still become law under certain conditions
an override requires a two-thirds or greater majority of members present in the House of Representatives
if the House of Councillors fails to take final action within 60 days after receipt of a bill from the House of Representatives the bill is deemed rejected
if the House of Councillors fails to take final action within 60 days after receipt of a bill from the House of Representatives the bill is deemed rejected by the House of Councillors
if the House of Councillors rejects a bill or fails to take final action within a prescribed period the House of Representatives may override
if the House of Councillors rejects a bill passed by the House of Representatives the bill becomes law if passed a second time by a two-thirds or more majority of members present in the House of Representatives
the prescribed period for House of Councillors action on ordinary bills is 60 days
regulates enactment of laws
legislative process
requires consideration of a bill by the House of Councillors
passage of a bill by the House of Representatives


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