日本 兩院制의 意義와 課題

Abstract

Since the foundation of the Republic of Korea in 1948, Korean government maintained unicameral system except the Second Republic era. On the other hand, Japan - the neighboring country of Korea,established bicameral system since the enforcement of the Meiji Constitution in 1890. According to Meiji Constitution, the Diet consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Peers. The bicameral system in the Meiji Constitution was, however, aimed to protect the Emperor system from populism. After the end of the World War II, GHQ (General Headquarters)planned to abolish the House of Peers, and adopt unicameral system as the new Diet of Japan. Japanese government, however, insisted to maintain bicameral system, and the insistence was recognized on the condition that members of both Houses must be formed through election. According to the Japanese Constitution which was enforced in 1947, the Diet of Japan consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. Today, there are a lot of criticisms that there are no specific differences between the House of Councilors and the House of Representatives structurally. Therefore, some people insist that the House of Councilors should be abolished, and others insist that the House of Councilors must be reformed. In order to operate bicameral system satisfactorily, it is necessary to discuss the significances of bicameral system.