The Constitution of Japan [1946-7] | Page 5

shall have the right and the obligation to work.
(2) Standards for wages, hours, rest and other working conditions shall
be fixed by law.
(3) Children shall not be exploited. Article 28. The right of workers to
organize and to bargain and act collectively is guaranteed.
Article 29. The right to own or to hold property is inviolable.
(2) Property rights shall be defined by law, in conformity with the
public welfare.
(3) Private property may be taken for public use upon just
compensation therefor. Article 30. The people shall be liable to
taxations as provided by law.
Article 31. No person shall be deprived of life or liberty, nor shall any
other criminal penalty be imposed, except according to procedure
established by law.
Article 32. No person shall be denied the right of access to the courts.
Article 33. No person shall be apprehended except upon warrant issued
by a competent judicial officer which specifies the offense with which
the person is charged, unless he is apprehended, the offense being
committed. Article 34. No person shall be arrested or detained without
being at once informed of the charges against him or without the
immediate privilege of counsel; nor shall he be detained without

adequate cause; and upon demand of any person such cause must be
immediately shown in open court in his presence and the presence of
his counsel. Article 35. The right of all persons to be secure in their
homes, papers and effects against entries, searches and seizures shall
not be impaired except upon warrant issued for adequate cause and
particularly describing the place to be searched and things to be seized,
or except as provided by Article 33.
(2) Each search or seizure shall be made upon separate warrant Issued
by a competent judicial officer. Article 36. The infliction of torture by
any public officer and cruel punishments are absolutely forbidden.
Article 39. In all criminal cases the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial tribunal.
(2) He shall be permitted full opportunity to examine all witnesses, and
he shall have the right of compulsory process for obtaining witnesses
on his behalf at public expense.
(3) At all times the accused shall have the assistance of competent
counsel who shall, if the accused is unable to secure the same by his
own efforts, be assigned to his use by the State. Article 38. No person
shall be compelled to testify against himself.
(2) Confession made under compulsion, torture or threat, or after
prolonged arrest or detention shall not be admitted in evidence.
(3) No person shall be convicted or punished in cases where the only
proof against him is his own confession Article 39. No person shall be
held criminally liable for an act which was lawful at the time it was
committed, or of which he has been acquitted, nor shall he be placed in
double jeopardy. Article 40. Any person, in case he is acquitted after he
has been arrested or detained, may sue the State for redress as provided
by law.

CHAPTER IV.
THE DIET Article 41. The Diet shall be the highest organ of state
power, and shall be the sole law-making organ of the State. Article 42.
The Diet shall consist of two Houses, namely the House of
Representatives and the House of Councillors. Article 43. Both Houses
shall consist of elected members, representative of all the people.
(2) The number of the members of each House shall be fixed by law.

Article 44. The qualifications of members of both Houses and their
electors shall be fixed by law. However, there shall be no
discrimination because of race, creed, sex, social status, family origin,
education, property or income. Article 45. The term of office of
members of the House of Representatives shall be four years. However,
the term shall be terminated before the full term is up in case the House
of Representatives is dissolved. Article 46. The term of office of
members of the House of Councillors shall be six years, and election
for half the members shall take place every three years. Article 47.
Electoral districts, method of voting and other matters pertaining to the
method of election of members of both Houses shall be fixed by law.
Article 48. No person shall be permitted to be a member of both
Houses simultaneously.
Article 49. Members of both Houses shall receive appropriate annual
payment from the national treasury in accordance with law.
Article 50. Except in cases provided by law, members of both Houses
shall be exempt from apprehension while the Diet is in session, and any
members apprehended before the opening of the session shall be freed
during the term of the session upon demand of the House. Article 51.
Members of