Something is strange. 20： What of the constitution is important? 1

 

<  Preamble of the Constitution of Japan  >

There are people who say should throw away the constitution which were forced by other country.

On the other hand, since the constitution is wonderful, there are people who say it is sufficient.

We look at the most important basic that right and wrong should be judged by.

The hint is in the world history.

The constitution did not exist formerly.

About 3500 years ago, human beings begin to write law to a text, and have developed it.

However, soon people became to not get satisfaction in only the law that the country has enacted.

押し付けられた憲法なんか、捨てるべきだと言う人々がいる。

一方で、素晴らしい憲法だから、これで良いと言う。

何をもって判断すれば良いかを見ます。

ヒントは世界史にあります。

かつて憲法は存在しませんでした。

人類は約３５００年前に法律を文章に書き始め、発展させて来ました。

しかし、やがて国が制定する法律だけでは満足出来なくなります。

＜　King John signs Magna Carta　＞

The aristocrats who were annoyed at the England king's repeated reckless war conspired, and he was made to consent to the document that restricts the king's authority.

This is Magna Carta in 1215.

Then, in order to prevent dogma and arrogance of authority, people come to state separation of the three powers.

This is the Declaration of Human Rights of France in 1789.

Even when parliamentary democracy is progressing today, in order to prevent the reckless run of administrative body and legislative body, the constitution bears the important duty.

In others, fundamental items, such as fundamental human rights, suffrage, and rule of law, are included in it.

イングランド王の度重なる無謀な戦争に、業を煮やした貴族達は結託し、王の権限を制限する文書を承諾させます。

これが１２１５年のマグナ・カルタです。

その後、権力者の独断専横を防止するために、三権分立を謳うようになります。

それが１７８９年のフランスの人権宣言です。

議会制民主主義が発達した今日でも、行政府や立法府の暴走を防止するために憲法は重要な役目を担っています。

他に、基本的人権や参政権、法の支配などの基本的な項目が含まれます。

＜　MacArthur of GHQ, and the prime minister's Yoshida 　＞

How was Japan?

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan of the Meiji era was not democratic.

The female suffrage in Japan was accepted in 1945, and it was a century later than America.

Although it had become a repeal bill in Parliament before, GHQ promoted it for democratization.

Recently, although unconstitutional judgment of election district vote weight disparity has been occurring one after another, some of ruling party member rebuked the judicature for a case of an unauthorized act.

Regrettably, a sense of human rights and law in Japan is behind.

日本はどうだったのか

明治の大日本帝国憲法は、民主的ではありませんでした。

日本で女性参政権が認められたのは１９４５年で、米国の約１世紀後でした。

以前、議会で廃案になっていたのですが、GHQが民主化の為に推し進めたのです。

最近、一票の格差で違憲判決が続出していますが、与党国会議員の一部には司法の越権行為だとなじる人もいます。

残念ながら、日本の人権意識や法意識は遅れています。

The constitution is the last breakwater.

One of the causes that Hitler has hold full powers was in The Reichstag fire in 1933.

He obtained two thirds of the parliamentary seats by detaining all communist party diet members in reason of this incident.

Then he got an absolute authority by pushing a law of general power of attorney through the legislature.

Russian President Putin revises the constitution and a term of office of the president became lengthen from 4 years to 6.

Furthermore, a term of office was forbidden to three consecutiveness, nevertheless he enabled to maintain his power, by changing the prime minister and the President.

憲法は最後の防波堤です。

ヒトラーが全権を掌握する切っ掛けは、国会議事堂放火事件にありました。

彼は、これを期に共産党議員を拘禁し、国会の２／３の賛成を得て、全権委任法を可決し、独裁を可能にしました。

ロシアのプーチン大統領は憲法を改訂し、任期４年を６年に伸ばし、さらに禁じられている３期連続を、首相と大統領を交替することで、権力保持を可能にしています。

 

＜　national legislature　＞

It is most important to prevent the reckless run of power (administrative body, legislative body).

Moreover, we should hold the legislative body to seat of good sense.

At least, we should never be allowed to change the legislative body such as a draft constitution can gain easily approval without arguing.

Next time is followed.

一番重要なのは、権力（行政府、立法府）の独走を防止することです。

また立法府を良識の府に留めておくべきです。

少なくとも議論もせずに簡単に憲法草案が成立する所にすべきではない。

次回に続きます。