Sanshinpo - Sanshinpo

This was the first unified local government system enacted by the Meiji government, and was a collective term for three new laws on the local government system promulgated on July 22, 1878 (Meiji 11): (1) the Gun, Ward, Town and Village Organization Law, (2) Prefectural Assembly Regulations, and (3) Local Tax Regulations. The aim of this law was to unify and regulate the local assembly that had been established in various regions, and to give limited suffrage (rights of self-government) to wealthy farmers and merchants to suppress the rise of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, as the previous large-ward and small-ward system had become too centralized and bureaucratic, and to restrain the rise of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. The basic concept was presented in a petition submitted by Minister of the Interior Okubo Toshimichi in March of the same year, and was promulgated after deliberations at the Local Government Officials' Conference in April and May. (1) restored the districts of counties and towns and villages, which had been denied under the large-ward and small-ward system, as administrative divisions, and officially recognized the public election of heads of households as autonomous entities for towns and villages. (2) allowed the establishment of prefectural assemblies by popular election, granting the right to vote and the right to be elected to those who paid land taxes of 5 yen or more and 10 yen or more, respectively, but the power of the prefectural assemblies was extremely weak. (3) unified and limited prefectural taxes and civil expenses into local taxes, and aimed to establish prefectural finances. The Three New Laws, together with the Ward, Town and Village Association Law of April 1980, formed a unified local government system, but after major reforms such as the joint household head office system of May 1984, the election of household heads, and the expansion of household head authority over ward, town and village associations, they were abolished with the implementation of the City and Town/Village System in 1988 and the Prefecture and County System in 1990.

[Yamanaka Einosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治政府が制定した最初の統一的地方制度で、1878年（明治11）7月22日に布告された地方制度に関する三つの新しい法、すなわち(1)郡区町村編制法、(2)府県会規則、(3)地方税規則の総称。それまでの大区・小区制があまりにも中央集権的、官治的なために多くの紛擾(ふんじょう)を生じて行き詰まったことと、各地に生まれてきた地方民会のあり方を統一、規制し、豪農商層に限定的参政権（自治権）を与えて自由民権運動の興隆を抑止することがねらいであった。同年3月の大久保利通(としみち)内務卿(きょう)の上申書に基本構想が提示され、4～5月の地方官会議での審議などを経て布告された。(1)では大区・小区制下で否定されていた郡・町村を行政区画として復活し、町村を自治団体として戸長公選制を公認した。(2)では地租5円以上、10円以上納入者をそれぞれ選挙権・被選挙権者とする公選制府県会設置を認めたが、府県会の権限はきわめて弱かった。(3)では従来の府県税、民費などを地方税に統一、制限し、府県財政の確立を図った。三新法は80年4月の区町村会法とともに地方制度の一体系をなしたが、84年5月の連合戸長役場制、戸長官選制、区町村会に対する戸長権限の拡大などの大改正を経て、88年市制・町村制および90年府県制・郡制の施行により廃止された。

［山中永之佑］

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