The Local Government System in Japan and the Metropolitan Assembly
More than 50 years have passed since the local government system based on democratic principles was established in Japan. During this period, many reforms have been made to develop its present form and to bring it closer to a self-government system based on the sovereignty of the citizens.
The Constitution of Japan defines the local government system as a principle basic to democracy. It guarantees this system by specifically framing the chapter on "Local Government" in the text.
The local government system takes the form of a two-level structure: regional entities called "to-do-fu-ken (prefectures)" and basic local bodies of "city, town and village. "Every area in Japan therefore belongs to one of the "prefectures" and at the same time, the unit of a "city, town or village."
Tokyo is a regional public body like other prefectures, but it has characteristics which other prefectures do not have. Among these characteristics are its 23 local subsidiary units called "special wards."Metropolitan Tokyo has the character of a prefecture in relation to its cities, towns and villages, and at the same time, to promote unified and efficient operation of a large urban administration, it has the character of a single city in the area encompassing the 23 special wards. It also has a special role as the national capital.
The organizations of local public bodies include a decision making body (the assembly) which makes decisions as a group, and an executive organization which implements the decisions made by the assembly. In the case of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "the Metropolitan Assembly" and "the Governor of Tokyo" correspond to these two bodies. Both the members of the Metropolitan Assembly who constitute the Metropolitan Assembly and Governor of Tokyo who is the chief executive are elected by Tokyo citizens.
The powers and roles of the Metropolitan Assembly and the Governor of Tokyo are clearly distinguished; they are equal and independent of each other. Furthermore, they maintain a fair and just administration through a system of mutual checks and balances.
In order to maintain democratic local government, every resident must be regarded as the administration's main constituent. For that reason, the Local Autonomy Law defines the basic rights and duties of the residents.
Tokyo residents have the right to use the "public facilities" set up by the metropolitan government such as parks and cultural facilities, and the right to equal access to all the services offered by the metropolitan government. On the other hand, they have the obligation to meet public imposts such as the metropolitan residency tax and, based on their ability to pay, to assume a fair share of the operational expenses of the metropolitan government.
Tokyo residents have the right to participate in the administrative affairs of the metropolitan government. Moreover, Tokyo citizens have several rights to make direct demands, such as the rights to demand the enactment or amendment of various ordinances of the metropolis, dissolution of the Metropolitan Assembly, dismissal of an assemblyman or to recall the Governor, and to call for inspection of illegal property transfers. Petitions to make requests of the metropolitan government are also recognized as a right of Tokyo citizens.
Within the structure of the local government system described above, the Metropolitan Assembly functions as the legislative organ of Metropolitan Tokyo. The basic mission of the Metropolitan Assembly is to understand the requests and opinions of Tokyo residents and to use these to guide the administration of the metropolitan government on behalf of 12 million Tokyo residents.
Note 1: The special ward is a local public body that exists only in the Tokyo metropolis and possesses the character and authority similar to that of a city.
