Party discipline and democratic reform in Japan

摘要: In 2005, the Japanese Upper House defeated government’s postal privatisation bill. Several members of governing Liberal Democratic Party voted with opposition. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took this defeat as tantamount to a motion no confidence against him and advised Emperor dissolve Lower per article 7 constitution. This looks at traditional argument that parliamentary government requires strong party discipline. It asks if cohesion discipline is really central maintenance democracy suggests unless parties allow engage in free discussion criticism vote accordance their views, Parliament unlikely be very successful. The more freedom member granted, democratic legislative policy process. paper argues effective policymaking needs reform.