Japanese · Lesson 137
Lesson 139
Narration and the written language
The Diet and its houses · Narration 1 of 2
The Diet and its two houses
*日本の国会は二院制で、衆議院と参議院とからなっている* means "The Japanese Diet has a two-house system and consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors."
*立法の仕事をするのが国会で、国会のつくる規則を「法律」と言う* means "The Diet does the work of legislation, and the rules that the Diet makes are called laws."
Members and terms
*両院ともに、その議員は国民から選挙される* means "The members of both houses are elected by the people."
The House of Representatives has 467 members with four-year terms. The House of Councillors has 250 members with six-year terms.
Half of the councillors are elected anew every three years.
Kanji: 議
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 選
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 挙
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 成
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 1
くにのしごとをおおきくみっつにわけてだいいちに、いろいろのきそくをこしらえるしごとを「りっぽう」といい、だいににほうりつにもとづいてさいばんをおこなうしごとを「しほう」といい、だいさんに、くにのせいじをおこなうしごとを「ぎょうせい」という。
The work of the nation is broadly divided into three parts: first, the work of making various rules is called “legislation”; second, the work of conducting trials on the basis of the law is called “the judiciary”; and third, the work of governing the nation is called “administration.”
国nationのof仕事workをobject大きくbroadly三threeつpartsにintoわけてdivide第first一firstに、first色々variousのof規則rulesをobjectこしらえるmake仕事workをobject「立法」legislationとquote言い、call第second二secondにsecond法律lawにon基づいbasedてbased裁判trialsをobject行なうconduct仕事workをobject「司法」judiciaryとquote言い、call第third三thirdに、third国nationのof政治governmentをobject行なうgovern仕事workをobject「行政」administrationとquote言う。call - 2
りっぽうのしごとをするのがこっかいで、こっかいのつくるきそくを「ほうりつ」という。
The Diet does the work of legislation, and the rules that the Diet makes are called “laws.”
立法legislationのof仕事workをobjectするdoesのthe oneがsubject国会Dietで、and国会Dietのthatつくるmakes規則rulesをobject「法律」lawsとquote言う。call - 3
にほんのこっかいはにいんせいで、しゅうぎいんとさんぎいんとからなっている。
The Japanese Diet has a two-house system and consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
日本Japanのof国会Dietはtopic二two-house system院two-house system制two-house systemで、and衆議House of Representatives院House of Representativesとand参議House of Councillors院House of Councillorsとandからofなっconsistsてconsistsいる。consists - 4
りょういんともに、そのぎいんはこくみんからせんきょされる。
The members of both houses are elected by the people.
両院both housesともbothに、togetherそのtheir議員membersはtopic国民peopleからby選挙are electedさare electedれる。are elected - 5
しゅうぎいんぎいんのにんきはよねんで、
The term of office of a member of the House of Representatives is four years.
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representatives議員memberのof任期term of officeはtopic四four年yearsで、is - 6
ぎいんのかずはよんひゃくろくじゅうしちにんである。
The number of members is 467.
議員membersのof数numberはtopic四百400六十60七7人peopleでisある。is - 7
さんぎいんぎいんのにんきはろくねんだが、さんねんごとに、そのはんすうのかいせんがある。
The term of office of a member of the House of Councillors is six years, but half of the members are elected anew every three years.
参議House of Councillors院House of Councillors議員memberのof任期term of officeはtopic六six年yearsだisが、but三three年yearsごとeveryに、atそのtheir半数halfのof改選reelectionがsubjectある。occurs - 8
ぎいんのかずはにひゃくごじゅうにんである。
The number of members is 250.
議員membersのof数numberはtopic二百200五十50人peopleでisある。is
1 The Diet
The Diet is the highest organ of state power and the only law-making body. It consists of two houses, the House of Representatives (467 seats) and the House of Councillors (250 seats). The members of the House of Representatives are elected for a four-year term, but their tenure of office is terminated with a dissolution of the House. The members of the House of Councillors are elected for a six-year term, with one-half elected every three years. There is no dissolution of the House of Councillors.
The members of the House of Representatives are elected from 118 electoral districts. One hundred of the councillors are elected on a national basis while the remainder are elected on a prefectural basis (46 prefectures).
The minimum voting age is 20 years. The new constitution also grants suffrage to women for the first time in Japan’s history, and women have already exerted considerable influence on the course of the nation’s policies. As a result of the most recent elections (November, 1960 for the House of Representatives; June, 1959 for the House of Councillors) they held seven seats in the House of Representatives, and thirteen in the House of Councillors.
Each of the two Houses of the Diet establishes standing and special committees. Every Diet member is assigned to at least one committee. These committees examine and deliberate all the bills, petitions, representations and other matters which come under their respective spheres of responsibility.
A bill is enacted into law upon approval by both Houses of the Diet, but the House of Representatives has the power to override the decisions of the House of Councillors.
Political Parties and Their Strength
9 December 1964
| House of Representatives | House of Councillors
Liberal-Democratic Party(自民党) | 287 | 145
Socialist Party(社会党) | 144 | 65
Democratic Socialist Party(民主社会党) | 23 | 10
Communist Party(共産党) | 4 | 3
Koomei Party(公明党) | | 15
Others | 1 | 9
Vacancy | 8 | 3
Total | 467* | 250**
3 to 5 members per district are elected from 117 electoral districts.
100 are elected from the national constituency, 150 are elected from the prefectural constituency.- 国
- country, nation
- の
- See Grammar Notes
- を
- particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
- 三
- three
- に
- on (See Gram. Notes)
- 一
- one
- こしらえる
- to make (v.t.)
- 「立法」
- legislative; lawmaking
- と
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- 二
- two
- 法律
- law
- 裁判
- trial; judgment
- 「司法」
- judicial
- 政治
- government; adminis-tration; politics
- 言う。
- to say
- が
- but (See Gram. Notes)
- 国会
- Diet
- で、
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- は
- leaves
- から
- from (See Gram. Notes)
- いる。
- to need (See Gram. Notes)
- 両院
- both houses
- 議員
- members of the Diet
- れる。
- to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
- 任期
- term of office
- 四
- four
- 年
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- 数
- number
- 四百
- 400
- 六十
- 60
- 七
- seven
- 人
- people
- ある。
- certain, some
- 六
- six
- だ
- to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
- 半数
- half the number
- 改選
- reelection
- 二百
- 200
- 五十
- 50
Elections and Diet sittings · Narration 2 of 2
Voting and eligibility
*国会議員の選挙は二十才以上の国民は男女を問わず行なう事が出来る* means "All citizens twenty years old or older, whether men or women, can vote in elections for members of the Diet."
*衆議院議員の場合は二十五才以上、参議院議員の場合には三十才以上になると被選挙権が得られる* gives age twenty-five for the House of Representatives and thirty for the House of Councillors.
Three kinds of session
*国会の常会は毎年一百五十日間ときまっていて* means "The regular session of the Diet is fixed at 150 days every year."
It usually opens in early December. Extraordinary and special sessions meet when necessary.
After dissolution, the election occurs within forty days. The new Diet opens within thirty days of that election.
Kanji: 問
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 得
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 9
こっかいぎいんのせんきょはにじゅっさいいじょうのこくみんはだんじょをとわずおこなうことができる。
All citizens twenty years old or older, whether men or women, can vote in elections for members of the Diet.
国会Diet members議員Diet membersのfor選挙electionsはtopic二十20才years old以上or olderのof国民citizensはtopic男女men or womenをobject問わregardless ofずregardless of行なうvote事doingがsubject出来る。can - 10
またにほんこくみんはだれでもこっかいぎいんになることができる。
Also, any Japanese citizen can become a member of the Diet.
又also日本Japanese国民citizenはtopicだれanyoneでanyoneもanyone国会Diet member議員Diet memberにintoなるbecome事becomingがsubject出来る。can - 11
しゅうぎいんぎいんのばあいはにじゅうごさいいじょう、さんぎいんぎいんのばあいにはさんじゅっさいいじょうになるとひせんきょけんがえられる。
A person gains the right to be elected at age twenty-five for the House of Representatives and at age thirty for the House of Councillors.
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representatives議員memberのfor場合caseはtopic二十20五five才years old以上、or older参議House of Councillors院House of Councillors議員memberのfor場合caseにinはtopic三十30才years old以上or olderにtoなるreachとwhen被electoral eligibility選挙electoral eligibility権electoral eligibilityがsubject得is gainedられる。is gained - 12
こっかいのじょうかいはまいねんいっぴゃくごじゅうにちかんときまっていて、
The regular session of the Diet is fixed at 150 days every year.
国会Dietのof常会regular sessionはtopic毎年every year一one百hundred五十50日間daysとatきまっis fixedてis fixedいis fixedて、is fixed - 13
たいていじゅうにがつじょうじゅんにかいかいする。
It usually opens in early December.
大抵usually十December二December月December上旬earlyにin開会openingする。do - 14
このほかに、ひつようのばあい、りんじかいやとくべつかいをひらく。
In addition, extraordinary sessions and special sessions are held when necessary.
このthis外besidesに、in必要necessaryのof場合、case臨時extraordinary session会extraordinary sessionやand特別special session会special sessionをobject開く。hold - 15
とくべつかいというのは、こっかいがかいさんされたとき、かいさんのひからよんじゅうにちいないにせんきょをおこなって、そのせんきょのひからさんじゅうにちいないにひらくあたらしいこっかいのことである。
A special session is a new session of the Diet that is held after the Diet has been dissolved, with an election held within forty days of the dissolution and the session opening within thirty days of that election.
特別special session会special sessionとquoteいうcalledのoneは、topic国会Dietがsubject解散was dissolvedさwas dissolvedれwas dissolvedたwas dissolved時、when解散dissolutionのof日dayからfrom四十40日days以内withinにin選挙electionをobject行なっheldて、heldそのthat選挙electionのof日dayからfrom三十30日days以内withinにin開くopens新しいnew国会Dietのof事sessionでisある。is
- 二十
- 20
- 出来る。
- to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
- だれ
- who?
- で
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- も
- as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
- 五
- five
- 三十
- 30
- 常会
- regular session
- 毎年
- every year (See Grammar Notes)
- 百
- 100
- い
- stomach
- 十
- ten
- 月
- moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
- 上旬
- first 10 days of a month
- や
- and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
- 時、
- time
- 四十
- 40
Branches of government and Diet · Questions 1 of 3
National work and the Diet
*国の仕事を大きく三つにわけると、何と何と何ですか* means "When the work of the nation is broadly divided into three parts, what are they?"
An answer names legislation, the judiciary, and administration. Other answers state the Diet's legislative work and name its two houses.
- 16
「こっかい」
The Diet
「国会」Diet - 17
にほんごでつぎのしつもんにこたえてください。
Please answer the following questions in Japanese.
日本Japanese語Japaneseでin次followingのof質問questionsにto答えanswerてanswerください。please - 18
くにのしごとをおおきくみっつにわけると、なんとなんとなんですか。
When the work of the nation is broadly divided into three parts, what are they?
国nationのof仕事workをobject大きくbroadly三threeつpartsにintoわけるdivideと、when何whatとand何whatとand何whatですareか。question - 19
りっぽうというのはどんなことですか。
What is legislation?
立法legislationとcalledいうsayのthingはtopicどんなwhat kind of事thingですisか。question - 20
しほうとは？
What is the judiciary?
司法judiciaryとcalledは？topic - 21
ぎょうせいとは？
What is administration?
行政administrationとcalledは？topic - 22
こっかいではどんなしごとをしますか。
What kind of work does the Diet do?
国会the Dietでatはtopicどんなwhat kind of仕事workをobjectしdoますpoliteか。question - 23
にほんのこっかいはなんいんせいですか。
How many houses does the Japanese Diet have?
日本Japanの's国会the Dietはtopic何how many院houses制systemですisか。question - 24
それはなんとなんですか。
What are the two houses?
それthoseはtopic何whatとand何whatですareか。question
- 「国会」
- Diet
- ください。
- please give me (See Gram. Notes)
- と、
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- です
- to be (See Gram. Notes)
- か。
- either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
- 立法
- legislative; lawmaking
- どんな
- what kind of; what sort of
- 司法
- judicial
- し
- city
- ます
- trout
Diet members and elections · Questions 2 of 3
Members, elections, and terms
*国会の議員は どうして えらばれますか* means "How are the members of the Diet chosen?"
An answer says that the people elect them. Other answers give each house's membership, terms, eligibility ages, and the regular session's length.
- 25
こっかいのぎいんはどうしてえらばれますか。
How are the members of the Diet chosen?
国会the Dietの's議員membersはtopicどうhowしdoてandえらばchooseれbeますpoliteか。question - 26
しゅうぎいんぎいんのにんきはなんねんですか。
How many years is the term of office of a member of the House of Representatives?
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representatives議員memberの's任期term of officeはtopic何how many年yearsですisか。question - 27
しゅうぎいんぎいんのかずはどのくらいですか。
How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representatives議員membersの's数numberはtopicどのhowくらいmanyですisか。question - 28
さんぎいんぎいんのにんきはなんねんですか。
How many years is the term of office of a member of the House of Councillors?
参議House of Councillors院House of Councillors議員memberの's任期term of officeはtopic何how many年yearsですisか。question - 29
さんぎいんぎいんのかずは？
How many members are there in the House of Councillors?
参議House of Councillors院House of Councillors議員membersの's数numberは？topic - 30
こっかいぎいんのせんきょはだれがしますか。
Who votes in elections for members of the Diet?
国会the Diet議員membersの's選挙electionsはtopicだれwhoがsubjectしdoますpoliteか。question - 31
しゅうぎいんぎいんになるためにはなんさいでなければなりませんか。
How old must a person be to become a member of the House of Representatives?
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representatives議員memberにintoなるbecomeためin orderにtoはtopic何how old才how oldでbeなけれnot beばifなりdoませnot, politeんnot, politeか。question - 32
さんぎいんぎいんのばあいはどうですか。
What about a member of the House of Councillors?
参議House of Councillors院House of Councillors議員memberの's場合caseはtopicどうhowですisか。question - 33
こっかいのじょうかいはどのくらいですか。
How long is the regular session of the Diet?
国会the Dietの's常会regular sessionはtopicどのhowくらいlongですisか。question
- どの
- which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
- くらい
- dark
How bills become laws · Questions 3 of 3
Sessions and a bill's path
*特別会というのは 何ですか* means "What is a special session?" The opening questions distinguish regular, extraordinary, and special sessions.
The later lines follow a bill through a specialized committee, a public hearing, and a majority vote in a plenary session.
Both houses complete the same procedure before the bill becomes an official law.
Kanji: 決
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 34
こっかいはいつごろかいかいになりますか。
About when does the Diet open?
国会the Dietはtopicいつ頃about when開会openにintoなりbecomeますpoliteか。question - 35
じょうかいのほかにどんなかいがありますか。
What kinds of sessions are there besides the regular session?
常会regular sessionのof外besidesにinどんなwhat kinds of会sessionsがsubjectありexistますpoliteか。question - 36
とくべつかいというのはなんですか。
What is a special session?
特別special会sessionとcalledいうsayのthingはtopic何whatですisか。question - 37
こくみん
The people
国民the people - 38
ほうりつをつくるには、まずせいふかぎいんがほうりつあんをこっかいにていしゅつするか、はつぎするかします。
To make a law, the government or a member of the Diet first submits or proposes a bill to the Diet.
法律lawをobjectつくるmakeにforは、topicまずfirst政府governmentかor議員Diet memberがsubject法律bill案billをobject国会the Dietにto提出submitするdoか、or発議proposeするdoかorしdoます。polite - 39
しゅうぎいんとさんぎいんはそのあんをそれぞれせんもんのいいんかいにまわします。
The House of Representatives and the House of Councillors each send the bill to the appropriate specialized committee.
衆議House of Representatives院House of Representativesとand参議House of Councillors院House of Councillorsはtopicそのthat案billをobjectそれぞれeach専門specializedのof委員committee会committeeにtoまわしsendます。polite - 40
いいんかいはそのほうあんにかんけいのあるひとたちやおおくのせんもんのがくしゃのいけんをきくためにこうちょうかいをひらいたりして、じゅうぶんしんぎしたうえで、たすうけつでさんぴをきめます。
The committee holds public hearings to hear the opinions of people concerned with the bill and many experts, deliberates on it fully, and then decides for or against it by majority vote.
委員committee会committeeはtopicそのthat法bill案billにto関係concernのofあるhaving人peopleたちpluralやand多くmanyのof専門expertのof学者scholarsの's意見opinionsをobject聞くhearためin orderにto公聴public hearing会public hearingをobject開いholdたりamong other thingsしdoて、andじゅうfully分fully審議deliberateしdoたpast上afterで、then多数majority vote決majority voteでby賛否for or againstをobjectきめdecideます。polite - 41
これをほんかいぎにかけて、もういちどたすうけつできめます。
It is then brought before a plenary session and decided once more by majority vote.
これthisをobject本plenary session会議plenary sessionにtoかけbringて、andもうonce一once度once多数majority vote決majority voteでbyきめdecideます。polite - 42
ひとつのぎいんできめられたほうりつあんは、さらにほかのぎいんにまわされ、おなじてつづきをへてけっていされたうえで、せいしきのほうりつとなります。
A bill approved by one house is then sent to the other house and, after going through the same procedure and being approved, becomes an official law.
一oneつoneのof議院houseでinきめdecideられbeたpast法律bill案billは、topicさらにthen他otherのof議院houseにtoまわさsendれ、be同じsame手続きprocedureをobjectへgo throughてand決定approveさdoれbeたpast上afterで、then正式officialのof法律lawとintoなりbecomeます。polite
- まず
- first, first of all
- それぞれ
- respectively
- 関係
- relationship
- ある
- certain, some
- 多く
- many of them
- 意見
- opinion
- 分
- minute
- 賛否
- approval or no approval; yes or no
- 本
- numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
- もう
- already (See Gram. Notes)
- へ
- to (See Gram. Notes)
- 正式
- formal
Legislatures, courts and elected members · Word list 1 of 3
The legislature and its members
These words cover lawmaking, courts, the Diet's structure, its elected members, and their terms.
*立法* means "legislative" or "lawmaking." *二院制* means "bicameral system." *議員* means "members of the Diet."
- 43
りっぽう
legislative; lawmaking
立法lawmaking - 44
さいばん
trial; judgment
裁判trial; judgment - 45
しほう
judicial
司法judicial - 46
にいんせい
bicameral system
二院制bicameral system - 47
しゅうぎいん
House of Representatives
衆議院House of Representatives - 48
さんぎいん
House of Councillors
参議院House of Councillors - 49
りょういん
both houses
両院both houses - 50
ぎいん
members of the Diet
議員Diet members - 51
せんきょする
elect
選挙するelect - 52
にんき
term of office
任期term of office - 53
かいせん
reelection
改選reelection
- 二院制
- bicameral system
- 衆議院
- House of Representatives
- 参議院
- House of Councillors
- 選挙する
- elect
Elections, sittings and dissolution · Word list 2 of 3
Elections and Diet sessions
These words cover election eligibility, Diet sessions, dissolution, deadlines, decisions, procedures, and bills.
*被選挙権* means "electoral eligibility." *解散（する）* means "dissolution" or "to dissolve." *--以内に* means "within --."
- 54
だんじょをとわず
irrespective of sex
男女を問わずregardless of sex - 55
ひせんきょけん
electoral eligibility
被選挙権electoral eligibility - 56
じょうかい
regular session
常会regular session - 57
りんじかい
emergency session
臨時会emergency session - 58
けっていする
decide
決定するdecide - 59
かけつする
pass; approve
可決するpass; approve - 60
てつづき
procedure
手続procedure - 61
とくべつかい
extraordinary session
特別会extraordinary session - 62
かいさん（する）
dissolution (to dissolve)
解散（する）dissolution; dissolve - 63
--いないに
within --
--以内にwithin - 64
ほうあん
bill; measure
法案bill; measure
- 男女を問わず
- irrespective of sex
- 被選挙権
- electoral eligibility
- 臨時会
- emergency session
- 決定する
- decide
- 可決する
- pass; approve
- 手続
- procedure
- 特別会
- extraordinary session
- 解散（する）
- dissolution (to dissolve)
- --以内に
- within --
- 法案
- bill; measure
Bills, committees and public hearings · Word list 3 of 3
From a bill to a decision
These words cover submitting and examining bills through committees, public hearings, majority votes, and plenary sessions.
*委員会* means "committee." *公聴会* means "public hearing." *多数決で* means "by majority vote."
- 65
ていしゅつする
submit
提出するsubmit - 66
ほうりつあん
legislative bill; draft of a proposed law
法律案legislative bill - 67
はつぎする
propose; sniggest
発議するpropose - 68
せんもんの
expert; professional
専門のexpert; professional - 69
いいんかい
committee
委員会committee - 70
いけん
opinion
意見opinion - 71
こうちょうかい
public hearing
公聴会public hearing - 72
しんぎする
discuss; deliberate on-----
審議するdeliberate on - 73
たすうけつで
by majority vote
多数決でby majority vote - 74
さんぴ
approval or no approval; yes or no
賛否approval or disapproval - 75
ほんかいぎ
plenary session
本会議plenary session
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise
1 Topics;
a Talk about the following topics with your classmates in Japanese.
(1) A comparative study of Japanese Diet and United States Congress.
(2) Three branches of the government.
(3) Rights to be elected.
(4) Procedure of how a legislative bill becomes a law.
2 Exercise;
a Interpretation Exercise
1 What is judiciary?
1 法律に基づいて裁判を行なう仕事を司法と言います。
2 How are the members of the Diet elected?
2 両院ともに、その議員は国民から選挙されます。
3 Who selects the members of the Diet?
3 二十才以上の国民は男女を問わず国会議員の選挙を行なう事が出来ます。
4 What is a so-called extraordinary session of the Diet?
4 特別会というのは国会が解散された時、解散の日から四十日以内に選挙を行なって、その選挙の日から三十日以内に開く新しい国会です。
5 When does the regular session of the Diet open?
5 国会の常会は大抵十二月上旬に開会します。Homework
1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary,
2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercise given.
3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji,
4 Read the Cultural Notes.- 提出する
- submit
- 法律案
- legislative bill; draft of a proposed law
- 発議する
- propose; sniggest
- 専門の
- expert; professional
- 委員会
- committee
- 公聴会
- public hearing
- 審議する
- discuss; deliberate on-----
- 多数決で
- by majority vote
- 本会議
- plenary session
The particulars
- The course
- Defense Language Institute, Japanese Basic Course, 1967 to 1971. Public domain. The teaching pages and the narration are ours.
- Reading aloud
- Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
- The book
- Botchan, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
- Data
- JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents