Legislative Council - Hoseishingikai

The Legislative Council is an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Justice that investigates and discusses basic legal matters such as civil and criminal law in response to consultations by the Minister of Justice. It discusses and reports on the appropriate form of laws on family, couples, children, marriage, divorce, crime, punishment, justice, contracts, companies, etc., taking into account the changes of the times in Japanese society and economy and the progress of science and technology. The Ministry of Justice prepares bills based on the recommendations of the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council is made up of up to 20 members, appointed by the Minister of Justice from among academics such as university professors. Members serve part-time for two years, but may be reappointed. The chairman, who represents the council, is nominated by the Minister of Justice through a mutual election of the members. When investigating and deliberating special matters, ad hoc members may be appointed in addition to the members, and secretaries may be appointed to assist the members and ad hoc members. In addition to general meetings, the Legislative Council can set up subcommittees depending on the content of the consultation. The general meeting is composed of committee members, and the subcommittees are composed of committee members, temporary committee members, and secretaries.

The Legislative Council's predecessor was the Code Research Committee, which was established by the Cabinet in 1893 (Meiji 26). It has since changed its name to the Law Investigation Committee, the Provisional Legislative Council, the Legislative Council, the Provisional Legislative Research Committee, and the Judicial Legislation Council.

[Editorial Department]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

法務大臣の諮問に応じて、民事、刑事などの基本的な法律の事項を調査・協議して答申する法務省の付属機関。日本の社会や経済の時代的な変化や科学技術の進歩などにかんがみ、これにふさわしい、家族・夫婦・子供、結婚・離婚、犯罪・刑罰・司法、契約・会社などの法律のあり方について、協議・答申している。法制審議会の答申を基に、法務省が法案を作成する。法制審議会の委員は20人以内で構成し、大学教授など学識経験者のなかから法務大臣が任命する。委員は非常勤で任期2年であるが、再任も可能となっている。審議会を代表する会長は、委員の互選に基づき法務大臣が指名する。特別の事項を調査・審議する場合には、委員とは別に臨時委員を置くことができ、さらに委員や臨時委員を補佐する幹事を置くこともできる。法制審議会には、総会のほか、諮問内容に応じて部会を設けることができる。総会は委員で構成し、部会は委員、臨時委員、幹事で構成する。

　なお、法制審議会は1893年（明治26）に内閣に設置した法典調査会が前身で、その後、法律取調委員会、臨時法制審議会、法制審議会、臨時法制調査会、司法法制審議会と名称を変更しながら現在に至っている。

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