Outline of the Legislative Bureau House of Councillors
The Legislative Bureau of the House of Councillors is:
- a national organ which was established to assist Members of the House of Councillors to carry out legislative activities.
- an organ which is independent of the Secretariat of the House of Councillors and is under the supervision of the President of the House of Councillors. The Commissioner General of the Legislative Bureau of the House of Councillors is appointed by the President of the House of Councillors with the approval of the House .
Underlying Laws
- The Diet law: paragraph 1 of Article 131, "A Legislative Bureau shall be established in each House to assist Diet Members in drafting bills".
- The Legislative Bureaus of the Houses Law (Law No. 92, 1948)
History
At the time of the inauguration of the Diet in May 1947, the Legislative Bureau of the House of Councillors started as a legislative department of the Secretariat of the House. To enhance its functions, the department was separated from the Secretariat and developed into the Legislative Bureau of the House.
Duties
- Formulating bills
- Formulating revisions of bills
- Various research on legal matters
Organization
- Commissioner General
- Deputy Commissioner General
- Five departments and ten divisions (to assist Members in carrying out legislative activities in response to the Committees and the Research Commission and Committees of the House)
- Superintendent of Legislation (assigned to work on important legal issues under the direction of the Commissioner General)
- General Afrairs Division
- Research Division
Full Number: 75 staff members other than the Commissioner General
| 1st Dept. | 1st Div. |
Committee on Fundamental National Policies Committee on Rules and Administration Committee on Discipline Commission on the Constitution |
| 2nd Div. |
Committee on Cabinet Committee on Oversight of Administration Special Committee on Consumer Affairs |
|
| 2nd Dept. | 1st Div. |
Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Research Committee on National Life and Economy |
| 2nd Div. | Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Committee on Economy and Industry Research Committee on Natural Resources and Energy |
|
| 3rd Dept. | 1st Div. | Committee on General Affairs Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System |
| 2nd Div. | Committee on Land and Transport Special Committee on Disasters Special Committee on Reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake |
|
| 4th Dept. | 1st Div. | Committee on Financial Affairs Committee on Budget Committee on Audit |
| 2nd Div. | Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee on Environment |
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| 5th Dept. | 1st Div. | Committee on Judicial Affairs Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Special Committee on Official Development Assistance and Related Matters Research Committee on International Economy and Foreign Affairs |
| 2nd Div. | Committee on Education, Culture and Science |
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