Regulations of the Research Commission on the Constitution

(Objects of setting up the Commission)

Article 1. The Research Commission on the Constitution shall conduct broad and comprehensive research on the Constitution of Japan.

(Written Report)

Article 2. Upon completion of the research mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Research Commission on the Constitution shall prepare a written report on the process and the result of the research, and the Chairman of the Commission shall submit it to the Speaker.

2 The Research Commission on the Constitution may prepare an interim written report on the process of its research, and the Chairman of the Commission may submit it to the Speaker.

3 The Speaker shall have the written report mentioned in paragraph 1, and any interim report, printed and distributed to each Member of the House.

(Number of members)

Article 3. The Research Commission on the Constitution shall consist of 50 members.

(Members)

Article 4. Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the House at the beginning of a session, and shall hold their membership until their term of office as Members of the House expires.

2 Membership shall be allocated to political parties and groups in the House in proportion to their numerical strength.

3 If, after members have been appointed in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, there arises a need for redistribution of the membership so allocated by reason of a change in the numerical strength of the political parties and groups, the Speaker may alter the membership with the consent of the Committee on Rules and Administration, notwithstanding the provision of paragraph 1 above.

4 With respect to members, the provisions of Articles 37, 39 and 40 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(Chairman)

Article 5. The Chairman of the Commission shall be elected by its members from among themselves.

2 With respect to the Chairman, the provisions of Articles 101 and 102 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 6. The Chairman shall arrange the business of the Commission, maintain order in it, and represent it.

(Directors)

Article 7. The Commission shall have one or more directors who are elected by its members from among themselves.

2 The Chairman may hold a meeting of directors to consult on the management of the Commission.

3 With respect to directors, the provision of paragraph 2, Article 38 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(Sub-committees)

Article 8. The Commission may set up sub-committees.

2 With respect to sub-committees, the provision of Article 90 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(Meetings)

Article 9. The Commission may hold a meeting regardless of whether the Diet is in or out of session.

Article 10. The Chairman shall fix the date and the time for a meeting of the Commission.

(Quorum)

Article 11. No business may be transacted and no decision taken in the Commission unless at least one half its members are present.

(Commission members' speech)

Article 12. Commission members may freely ask questions and express opinions on the subject under consideration.

(Hearing opinions from Members not on the Commission)

Article 13. With respect to a measure or matter under research, the Commission may request the attendance of any Member not on the Commission to hear his or her opinion, when the Commission deems it necessary or when a Member not on the Commission asks to speak.

(Sending Commission members)

Article 14. When the Research Commission on the Constitution desires to send out Commission members for investigation,the approval of the Speaker must be obtained.

(Presence of Minister(s) of State to give explanation)

Article 15. The Research Commission on the Constitution may request,through the Speaker, when the Commission deems it necessary, a Minister of State, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the President of the Board of Audit to attend its meeting and give an explanation.

(Submission of reports or records)

Article 16. The Commission is authorized to demand through the Speaker that the Cabinet, offices of government and public entities, and others, produce necessary reports or records.

(Open hearings)

Article 17. The Commission may hold an open hearing, when it deems this necessary for its research.

2 With respect to open hearings, the provisions of Articles 78 and 79 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(Informants)

Article 18. The Commission may, if necessary for its research,request the attendance of an informant to hear his or her views.

(Maintenance of Order)

Article 19. If a member conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner at a meeting of the Research Commission on the Constitution, or impairs the dignity of the House, the Chairman shall restrain him or her or cause him or her to retract his or her remarks. If the Chairman's order is not obeyed, the Chairman may forbid the member to speak until the day's Commission meeting is over, or cause him or her to leave the Commission's meeting room.

(Recess and Adjournment)

Article 20. The Chairman may declare a recess or adjourn the meeting, if the business of the Commission goes out of control or if a case for discipline occurs.

(Report and Other Measures on a Disciplinary Case)

Article 21. If the Chairman considers that a disciplinary case has occurred in a meeting of the Commission, the Chairman shall report it to the Speaker for disciplinary action.

2. With respect to a disciplinary case that has occurred in a meeting of the Commission, the provision of Article 235 of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(Opening to the Public, and Admission of Visitors)

Article 22. Meetings of the Research Commission on the Constitution shall be public. However, the Commission may hold closed meetings if it so decides.

2. For the maintenance of order, the Chairman may limit the number of visitors to be admitted, or order any of the visitors to leave the meeting room.

(Minutes of Proceedings)

Article 23. The Research Commission on the Constitution shall produce minutes of the proceedings, and keep them in the House after the Chairman and the directors have put their names to them.

2. The minutes of a meeting shall bear the names of those present, the titles of the measures or matters submitted to the meeting, the Order of the Day and other important details.

3. The minutes shall be printed and distributed to each Member of the House. However, any remarks which the Chairman has ordered to be retracted under the provisions of Article 19 shall be excluded.

(Office for the Research Commission on the Constitution)

Article 24. An Office shall be established in the Research Commission on the Constitution to handle the Commission's business.

2. There shall be one Director General of the Office and other necessary personnel.

3. The Director General of the Office shall administer the business of the Office under the direction of the Chairman of the Commission.

(Detailed Rule)

Article 25. Besides the matters provided for under these Regulations,the Order of the Day and other necessary matters related to the administration of the Commission's business and others shall be provided for by the decision of the Research Commission on the Constitution.