The Meiji Constitution (1881)
Having, by virtue of the glories of Our Ancestors, ascended the Throne of a lineal succession unbroken for ages eternal; desiring to promote the welfare of, and to give development to the moral and intellectual faculties of Our beloved subject, the very same that have been favored with the benevolent care and affectionate vigilance of Our Ancestors; and hoping to maintain the prosperity of the State, in concert with Our people and with their support,
We hereby promulgate, in pursuance of Our Imperial Rescript of the 12th day of the 10th month of the 14th year of Meiji, a fundamental law of State, to exhibit the principles, by which We are to be guided in Our conduct, and to point out to what Our
descendants and Our subjects and their descendants are forever to conform.
The rights of sovereignty of the State, We have inherited from Our Ancestors, and We shall bequeath them to Our descendants. . . .
Article I. The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal.
Article II. The Imperial Throne shall be succeeded to by Imperial male descendants, according to the provisions of the Imperial House Law.
Article III. The Emperor is sacred and inviolable.
Article IV. The Emperor is the head of the Empire. . . .
Article XI. The Emperor has the supreme command of the Army and Navy.
Article XII. The Emperor determines the organization and peace standing of the Army and Navy.
Article XIII. The Emperor declares war, makes peace, and concludes treaties.
(excerpted 4 out of 15 articles)
Article XVIII. The conditions necessary for being a Japanese sub- ject shall be determined by law.
Article XX. Japanese subjects are amenable to service in the Army and Navy, according to the provisions of law.
Article XXIII. No Japanese subject shall be arrested, detained, tried or punished, unless according to law.
Article XXIX. Japanese subjects shall, within the limits of law, enjoy the liberty of speech, writing, publication, public meetings and associations.
Article XXXIII. The Imperial Diet shall consist of two Houses, a House of Peers and a House of Representatives.
Article XXXIV. The House of Peers shall, in accordance with the Ordinance concerning the House of Peers, be composed of the members of the Imperial Family, of the orders of nobility,
and of those persons who have been nominated thereto by the Emperor.
Article XXXV. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members elected by the people, according to the provision of the Law of Election.