Meiji Restoration – Political Changes & The Meiji Constitution

Under the new Meiji Government, who stood at the top of the army, navy, executive and legislative powers?

• Diet

• Oligarchy

• Emperor

• genrō:

In 1889, a new constitution fell into place in Meiji Japan, heavily influenced by which Western models?

• Germany

• France

• USA

• British

A small group of people having control of a country or organisation

• Oligarchy

• Promulgation

• Sovereignty

• genrō

 Instead of the Shogun controlling the law by his decress, a legislative assembly called the ________ would be the apparatus for passing laws, as well as selecting the prime minister.

• Diet

• House of Peers

• House of Representatives

• Cabinet

An unofficial designation given to certain retired elder Japanese statesmen who served as informal extraconstitutional advisors to the emperor

• Oligarchy

• Promulgation

• Sovereignty

• genrō

Explain the role the emperor served under the new Meiji Restoration government structure. (1 - 2 sentences)

Answer explanation

The role the emperor served under the new Meiji Restoration government structure was mostly symbolic and he stood as a figure head. Source A states, “The ruling elder statesmen (genro) however held the actual power to run the state” This demonstrated the oligarchy held the power in the government. Furthermore, Source B argues, “In reality, it was clear that he would exercise little power over the runnings of day-to-day governance, no different from emperors in the preceding Tokugawa era.”

The act of making a law or decree known, or formally putting it into effect, by public declaration.

• Oligarchy

• Promulgation

• Sovereignty

• genrō

Supreme power or authority

• Oligarchy

• Promulgation

• Sovereignty

• genrō

Explain how the balance of power worked in the new Meiji era parliament, the Diet?

Answer explanation

The power of the new parliament, the Diet, was limited. Source B argues that, “the Army and the Navy answer[ed] directly to the Emperor, rather than the Diet.” and that. “… the upper “House of Peers”…was filled with noblemen and those appointed by the Emperor.” This demonstrated the restricted nature of the democratic process in early Meiji Japan.

 

Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Japan had no written constitution.

• true

• false