Previous Constitution of Japan [1889] | Page 4

out to what Our
descendants and Our subjects and their descendants are forever to
conform.

The right of sovereignty of the State, We have inherited from Our
Ancestors, and We shall bequeath them to Our descendants. Neither
We nor they shall in the future fail to wield them, in accordance with
the provisions of the Constitution hereby granted.
We now declare to respect and protect the security of the rights and of
the property of Our people, and to secure to them the complete
enjoyment of the same, within the extent of the provisions of the
present Constitution and of the law.
The Imperial Diet shall first be convoked for the 23rd year of Meiji and
the time of its opening shall be the date, when the present Constitution
comes into force.
When in the future it may become necessary to amend any of the
provisions of the present Constitution, We or Our successors shall
assume the initiative right, and submit a project for the same to the
Imperial Diet. The Imperial Diet shall pass its vote upon it, according
to the conditions imposed by the present Constitution, and in no
otherwise shall Our descendants or Our subjects be permitted to
attempt any alteration thereof.
Our Ministers of State, on Our behalf, shall be held responsible for the
carrying out of the present Constitution, and Our present and future
subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present
Constitution.

CHAPTER I.
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 8. The Emperor, in consequence of an urgent necessity to
maintain public safety or to avert public calamities, issues, when the
Imperial Diet is not sitting, Imperial ordinances in the place of law.
(2) Such Imperial Ordinances are to be laid before the Imperial Diet at
its next session, and when the Diet does not approve the said
Ordinances, the Government shall declare them to be invalid for the
future.
Article 9. The Emperor issues or causes to be issued, the Ordinances
necessary for the carrying out of the laws, or for the maintenance of the
public peace and order, and for the promotion of the welfare of the
subjects. But no Ordinance shall in any way alter any of the existing
laws.
Article 10. The Emperor determines the organization of the different
branches of the administration, and salaries of all civil and military
officers, and appoints and dismisses the same. Exceptions especially
provided for in the present Constitution or in other laws, shall be in
accordance with the respective provisions (bearing thereon).
Article 11. The Emperor has the supreme command of the Army and
Navy.
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.
(2) The conditions and effects of a state of siege shall be determined by
law.
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.
(2) The Regent shall exercise the powers appertaining to the Emperor
in His name.

CHAPTER II.
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF SUBJECTS
Article 18. The conditions necessary for being a Japanese subject shall
be determined by law.
Article 19. Japanese subjects may, according to qualifications
determined in laws or ordinances, be appointed to civil or military or
any other public offices equally.
Article 20. Japanese subjects are amenable to service in the Army or
Navy, according to the provisions of law.
Article 21. Japanese subjects are amenable to the duty of paying taxes,
according to the provisions of law.
Article 22. Japanese subjects shall have the liberty of abode and of
changing the same within the limits of the law.
Article 23. No Japanese subject shall be arrested, detained, tried or
punished, unless according to law.
Article 24. No Japanese subject shall be deprived of his right of