Empire of Japan

====Political reform====
{{Main|Meiji Constitution}}
[[File:Japanese Parliament in session.jpg|thumb|upright|Interior of the [[House of Peers (Japan)|Japanese Parliament]], showing the Prime Minister speaking addressing the House of Peers, 1915]]

The idea of a written constitution had been a subject of heated debate within and outside of the government since the beginnings of the [[Meiji government]]. The conservative Meiji oligarchy viewed anything resembling [[democracy]] or [[republicanism]] with suspicion and trepidation, and favored a gradualist approach. The [[Freedom and People's Rights Movement]] demanded the immediate establishment of an elected [[national assembly]], and the promulgation of a constitution.

The constitution recognized the need for change and modernization after the removal of the [[shogunate]]:
<blockquote>We, the Successor to the prosperous Throne of Our Predecessors, do humbly and solemnly swear to the Imperial Founder of Our House and to Our other Imperial Ancestors that, in pursuance of a great policy co-extensive with the Heavens and with the Earth, We shall maintain and secure from decline the ancient form of government. ... In consideration of the progressive tendency of the course of human affairs and in parallel with the advance of civilization, We deem it expedient, in order to give clearness and distinctness to the instructions bequeathed by the Imperial Founder of Our House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors, to establish fundamental laws. ...</blockquote>

Imperial Japan was founded, ''[[de jure]]'', after the 1889 signing of Constitution of the Empire of Japan. The constitution formalized much of the Empire's political structure and gave many responsibilities and powers to the Emperor.
*Article 1. The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal.
*Article 2. The Imperial Throne shall be succeeded to by Imperial male descendants, according to the provisions of the Imperial House Law.
*Article 3. The Emperor is sacred and inviolable.
*Article 4. The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, and exercises them, according to the provisions of the present Constitution.
*Article 5. The Emperor exercises the legislative power with the consent of the Imperial Diet.
*Article 6. The Emperor gives sanction to laws, and orders them to be promulgated and executed.
*Article 7. The Emperor convokes the Imperial Diet, opens, closes and prorogues it, and dissolves the House of Representatives.
*Article 11. The Emperor has the supreme command of the Army and Navy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://history.hanover.edu/texts/1889con.html |title=1889 Japanese Constitution |website=history.hanover.edu}}</ref>
*Article 12. The Emperor determines the organization and peace standing of the Army and Navy.
*Article 13. The Emperor declares war, makes peace, and concludes treaties.
*Article 14. The Emperor declares a state of siege.
*Article 15. The Emperor confers titles of nobility, rank, orders and other marks of honor.
*Article 16. The Emperor orders amnesty, pardon, commutation of punishments and rehabilitation.
*Article 17. A Regency shall be instituted in conformity with the provisions of the Imperial House Law.

In 1890, the [[National Diet|Imperial Diet]] was established in response to the Meiji Constitution. The Diet consisted of the [[House of Representatives of Japan]] and the [[House of Peers (Japan)|House of Peers]]. Both houses opened seats for colonial people as well as Japanese. The Imperial Diet continued until 1947.<ref name=ndlconstitution/>