The National Diet of Japan has two Houses: the House of Representatives with 465 members and the House of Councillors with 248

Background

The Diet consists of two Houses, the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, each composed of elected Members who represent all the people. The House of Representatives has 465 members with a term of office of 4 years, and that term ends with the dissolution of the House. The House of Councillors has 248 members with a term of office of 6 years, with half of the Members elected every third year. Dissolution is possible for the House of Representatives and not possible for the House of Councillors. In the House of Representatives 289 members are returned from single-seat constituencies and 176 by proportional representation. In the House of Councillors 148 members are returned from plural-seat prefectural constituencies and 100 by proportional representation. The right to vote for both Houses rests with citizens 18 years of age or older, while the right to stand for office is citizens 25 years of age or older for the House of Representatives and citizens 30 years of age or older for the House of Councillors. Each House also has a Commission on the Constitution, a Board of Oversight and Review of Specially Designated Secrets, and a Deliberative Council on Political Ethics.