The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889

"The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889" by Japan is a constitution proclaimed in 1889 and enacted in 1890. It established a mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy modeled after German and British systems, creating Asia's first parliamentary government. The document defined the Emperor's role, established an independent judiciary, and granted limited civil rights subject to legal restriction. It governed Japan until 1947, when it was replaced during Allied occupation. The constitution's interpretation sparked ongoing struggles between authoritarian and liberal-democratic tendencies throughout the Empire's existence.

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889, by Japan. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #613.