This course focuses on the constitutionalism and the constitutional law of Japan.
Topics include general theory on the Constitutional law, government systems and human rights.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the history and principle of constitutionalism.
2) Explain the reason the Constitution guarantees fundamental human rights.
3) Explain the power of government system and its reason.
Constitution, Constitutionalism, Fundamental rights, Separation of power, Rule of law
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
At the beginning of each class, lectures a fundamental knowledge on each section. Towards the end of class, lectures a actual problem on each section.
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Guidance | Guidance for studying of Consitution |
Class 2 | "What is constitution? What is constitutionalism?" | Understand the significance of constitution and constitutionalism. |
Class 3 | Separation of powers, and popular sovereignty | Understand the necessity of the separation of powers. Understand what is sovereignty. |
Class 4 | The Status, practice and power of the Diet | Understand the status and power of the Diet. |
Class 5 | Parliamentary government, and administrative power of the Cabinet | Understand the Significance of the administrative power. |
Class 6 | Judicial power | Understand what is the judicial power. |
Class 7 | Judicial review | Understand the check system on the constitutionality of any official act. |
Class 8 | Overall, midterm Examination | achivement of understanding of the government |
Class 9 | Social rights | Understand the welfare right, the right to receive education, and the rights of worker |
Class 10 | Economic freedoms | Understand the right to choose occupation and the right to property |
Class 11 | Right to vote | Understand the right to votes |
Class 12 | Personal freedoms | Understand the freedom of thought and conscience, religion, and expression and the academic freedom |
Class 13 | Comprehensive rights, and equality | Understand the contents of the right to pursuit of happiness and the equality under the law |
Class 14 | Restrictions on the fundamental human rights | Understand the permissibility of public welfare restriction on constitutional rights, and the applicability of constitutional rights to private conduct of citizens |
Class 15 | General theory of the fundamental human rights | Understand the history, idea, classification, and subject of the fundamental human rights |
not appointed. Please refer these books of reference.
Nobuyoshi Ashibe (supplanted by Kazuyuki Takahashi), Kenpo (Constitutional Law) 7th edn(Iwanamishoten 2019)
Norikazu Kawagishi, Mina Endo, Masaomi Kimizuka, Tatsuya Fuji and Yoshihito Takahashi, Kenpo (Constitutional Law) 4th edn (Seirinshoin 2016)
Masaomi Kimizuka (ed), Basic Text Kenpo (Basic Textbook on Constitutional Law) 3rd edn (Horitsu Bunka sha 2017)
Masaomi Kimizuka (ed), Daigakusei no tameno kenpo (Constitutional Law for Young Leaners) (Horitsu Bunka sha 2017)
Yoshio Hasebe, Kenpo (Constitutional Law) 7th edn(ShinseiSha 2018)
Midterm and final exams 80%, assignment works 20%
interesting in Constitution
Read newspapers and watch tv news carefully, you can discover some constitutional problems.
So you should be exposed to actual problem by reading newspapers and watching tv news.
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.