Role of Diet Members in Legislation

这项研究由全国范围内的宪法和政治学学者与立法实践者合作进行了三年(1988-90)。宪法规定，国会是唯一的立法机关，应该制定法律。然而，事实上，在国会通过的所有法律中，只有15%是由政府发起的。此外，许多实施重大国家政策的法律都是由内阁制定的。尽管有宪法规定，但国会作为立法机关的运作并不令人满意。这项研究旨在通过对国会议员发起的立法的案例研究，阐明如何提高国会的立法能力。本研究中议员发起的立法可分为以下几类：(1)与国会有关的法律(1955年国会法案修正案，限制议员提交法案的权力；1986年国会法案修正案，在参议院设立调查委员会；1982年公职选举法修正案，引入上议院比例代表制；(2)有关教育的法律(1975年《私立学校促进和援助法》；1978年《育儿假法案》；1982年《外籍教授聘任法》)(3)关于地区发展的法律(1980年《人口减少地区发展法》)这项研究建议，除其他外，加强立法援助机构、改进委员会的审议、公开议会信息和改革请愿程序。

This study has been carried out by nation-wide scholars of constitutional law and political science with collaboration of legislative practitioners for three years (1988 - 90). The Diet is prescribed by the Constitution to be the sole legislative organ and is supposed to make laws. As a matter of fact, however, only fifteen percent out of all the laws passed by the Diet are initiated the Government. Besides many of the laws to implement important national policies are originated from the Cabinet. The Diet is not functioning as a legislative organ satisfactorily in spite of the constitutional prescription. This study intends to clarify the ways to heighten legislative capability of the Diet through case studies of legislations which were initiated by Diet members.The member-initiated legislations taken up in this study can be categorized as follows :(1) laws concerning the Diet (The 1955 Amendments of the Diet Act, which limited members' power to submit bills ; the 1986 Amendments of the Diet Act, which established the Investigation Committee in the House of Councilors ; the 1982 Amendments of the Public Offices Election Act, which introduced te proportional representation system of the Upper House ; the 1986 Amendments of the POEA, which fixed malapportionment of the House of Representatives)(2) laws concerning education (Private Schools Promotion and Assistance Act of 1975 ; Baby Care Leave Act of 1978 ; Alien Professors Appointment Act of 1982)(3) laws concerning regional development (Depopulated Area Development Act of 1980)This study proposes, among others, strengthening of legislative assistance institutions, improvement of committee deliberation, disclosure of the Diet information and reform of petition procedure.