Deliberation of Bills
No business may be transacted in a committee unless at least one-half of its members are present. All business is decided by majority vote of the members present. Members of the media and others may attend meetings as observers with the permission of the chair.
Legislation can be submitted by Diet Members or by the Cabinet, but only the Cabinet can submit the national budget or a treaty.
For Members to submit a legislative bill, the bill must have the support of 20 or more Members of the House of Representatives (in the case of the House of Councillors: 10 or more Members). Legislative bills requiring budget, however, need the support of 50 or more Members of the House of Representatives (in the case of the House of Councillors: 20 or more Members).
Once a bill has been submitted, the presiding officer of the House refers the bill to the committee under whose jurisdiction the bill falls. After receiving a briefing on the bill from the Members who submitted the bill or the Minister of State in charge, the committee members ask questions of the Diet Members who submitted the bill, the Minister of State, or other government officials in a question-and-answer session.
After questions have been fielded, the political parties and groups express their position on the bill in a debate. Then a vote is taken. Votes at committees are taken by asking those in favor of the bill to stand.