Reinterpretation of the Constitution - Kaishaku Kaiken

Japanese: 解釈改憲 - かいしゃくかいけん

This refers to an attempt to carry out substantial constitutional reform by changing the interpretation of the constitutional provisions, rather than amending it through formal procedures. Modern states are basically run on the principle of separation of powers, and have a constitution as the basic law that is the fundamental premise of this. The constitution also provides the basis for the legitimacy of state power. There have been many cases in history where a state of emergency has been created through a revolution or coup d'état, and the effectiveness of the constitution has been violently suspended, leading to the establishment of new powers and a transition to a new constitutional system. This is because there are high hurdles to amending the constitution, which is a basic law. Article 96 of the Japanese Constitution strictly prescribes the requirements for amendment, and this has been a major obstacle for the Liberal Democratic Party, which has made amending the Japanese Constitution and establishing an independent constitution its party policy since its founding. The first Abe Shinzo Cabinet passed a national referendum law that relaxed the requirements for constitutional amendment, and the second Abe Cabinet, which was established in December 2012, made clear its stance on constitutional amendment, but it believed that the amendment of Article 96 would not be accepted by public opinion, and took steps to effectively achieve constitutional amendment by changing the interpretation of the constitution. The focus is on the preamble and Article 9 of the Constitution, and the policy of allowing the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Regarding the right of collective self-defense, successive cabinets have maintained the view that the Constitution only allows for the right of individual self-defense, and that while the right of collective self-defense is retained, its exercise is not permitted under the Constitution. The Cabinet Legislation Bureau, whose mission is to strictly examine the consistency of the legal system based on the Constitution, has also consistently been negative about allowing the exercise of the right of collective self-defense under the current Constitution. The second Abe Cabinet appointed Ichiro Komatsu, an advocate of the right to exercise, as Director-General of the Legislation Bureau, and is prepared to make a Cabinet decision to allow the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, taking into account the support of Japan's ally, the United States. The ruling Komeito Party is cautious, and even among conservatives who advocate constitutional reform, there are strong opinions opposed to a de facto constitutional amendment through a change in interpretation, but in July 2014, the Abe Cabinet made a Cabinet decision to allow the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, taking a major step toward constitutional interpretation reform.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

憲法を正式手続きによって改正するのでなく，その条文解釈を変更することで実質的改憲を実行しようとすること。近代国家は基本的に三権分立を原則として運営されており，その大前提となる基本法として憲法を有している。国家権力の合法性を基礎づけているのも憲法である。革命やクーデタによって非常事態を生じさせ憲法の効力を暴力的に停止することで新権力を樹立し新憲法体制に移行するというケースは，歴史上しばしば見られるが，それは基本法たる憲法の改正に高いハードルが設けられているからである。日本国憲法は第96条で改正のための要件を厳しく定めており，日本国憲法改正・自主憲法制定を結党以来党是としている自由民主党にとって大きな壁となってきた。第一次安倍晋三内閣は憲法改正の要件を緩和する国民投票法を成立させ，2012年12月に成立した第二次安倍内閣では憲法改正に取り組む姿勢を鮮明にしたが，96条改正が国民世論に受け入れられないとみて，憲法の解釈変更によって事実上憲法改正を実現する方向に踏み出した。焦点となるのは憲法前文と第９条で，集団的自衛権の行使を容認する，という方針である。集団的自衛権について歴代内閣は憲法で認められているのは個別自衛権であり，集団的自衛権は保持するもののその行使は憲法上認められない，という見解を維持してきた。憲法を基幹とする法体系の整合性を厳しく審査することを任務とする内閣法制局の見解も現行憲法のもとでの集団的自衛権行使容認には一貫して否定的である。第二次安倍内閣は法制局長官に行使容認論者の小松一郎を起用，同盟国アメリカの支持を踏まえ，集団的自衛権行使容認を閣議決定する構えである。与党公明党は慎重論であり，憲法改正を主張する保守派のなかにも解釈変更による事実上の改憲には反対の意見が根強くあるが，2014年７月安倍内閣は集団的自衛権行使容認を閣議決定し，解釈改憲に大きく踏み出した。

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