Imperial Ordinance Concerning the House of Peers

IMPERIAL ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF PEERS.

We, in accordance with the express provision of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, hereby promulgate, with the advice of Our Privy Council, the present Ordinance concerning the House of Peers; as to the date of its being carried out, We shall issue a special order.

[His Imperial Majesty's Sign-Manual.]

[Privy Seal.]

The 11th day of the 2nd month of the 22nd year of Meiji.

(Countersigned)

Count KURODA KIYOTAKA, Minister President of State.

Count ITO HIROBUMI, President of the Privy Council.

Count OKUMA SHIGENOBU, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Count SAIGO TSUKUMICHI, Minister of State for the Navy.

Count INOUYE KAORU, Minister of State for Agriculture and Commerce.

Count YAMADA AKIYOSHI, Minister of State for Justice.

Count MATSUGATA MASAYOSHI, Minister of State for Finance and Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Count OYAMA IWAO, Minister of State for War.

Viscount MORI ARINORI, Minister of State for Education.

Viscount ENOMOTO TAKEAKI, Minister of State for Communications.

ARTICLE I
The House of Peers shall be composed of the following Members:—


 * 1. The members of the Imperial Family.
 * 2. Princes and Marquises.
 * 3. Counts, Viscounts, and Barons who have been elected thereto by the members of their respective orders.
 * 4. Persons who have been elected, one Member for each Fu (City) and Ken (Prefecture), by and from among the tax-payers of the highest amount of direct national taxes on land, industry, or trade therein, and who have afterwards been nominated thereto by the Emperor.

ARTICLE II
The male members of the Imperial Family shall take seats in the House on reaching their majority.

ARTICLE III
The members of the orders of Princes and of Marquises shall become Members on reaching the age of full twenty-five years.

ARTICLE IV
The members of the orders of Counts, Viscounts and Barons, that after reaching the age of full twenty-five years have been elected by the members of their respective orders, shall become Members for a term of seven years. Rules for their election shall be specifically determined by Imperial Ordinance.

The number of Members mentioned in the preceding clause shall not exceed one-fifth of the entire number of the respective orders of Counts, Viscounts, and Barons.

ARTICLE V
Any man of above the age of full thirty years, who has been nominated Member by the Emperor for meritorious services to the State or for erudition, shall be a life Member.

ARTICLE VI
One Member shall be elected in each Fu and Ken from among and by the fifteen male inhabitants thereof of above the age of full thirty years, paying therein the highest amount of direct national taxes on land, industry, or trade. When the person thus elected receives his nomination from the Emperor, he shall become Member for a term of seven years. Rules for such election shall be specifically determined by Imperial Ordinance.

ARTICLE VII
The number of Members that have been nominated by the Emperor, for meritorious services to the State, or for erudition, or from among men paying the highest amount of direct national taxes on land, industry, or trade in each Fu or Ken, shall not exceed the number of the Members having the title of nobility.

ARTICLE VIII
The House of Peers shall, when consulted by the Emperor, pass vote upon rules concerning the privileges of the nobility.

ARTICLE IX
The House of Peers decides upon the qualification of its Members and upon disputes concerning elections thereto. The rules for these decisions shall be resolved upon by the House of Peers and submitted to the Emperor for His Sanction.

ARTICLE X
When a Member has been sentenced to confinement, or to any severer punishment, or has been declared bankrupt, he shall be expelled by Imperial Order.

With respect to the expulsion of a Member, as a disciplinary punishment in the House of Peers, the President shall report the facts to the Emperor for His decision.

Any Member that has been expelled shall be incapable of again becoming a Member, unless permission so to do has been granted by the Emperor.

ARTICLE XI
The President and Vice-President shall be nominated by the Emperor, from among the Members, for a term of seven years.

If an elected Member is nominated President or Vice-President, he shall serve in that capacity for the term of his membership.

ARTICLE XII
Every matter, other than what provision has been made for in the present Imperial Ordinance, shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the Law of the Houses.

ARTICLE XIII
When in the future any amendment or addition is to be made in the provisions of the present Imperial Ordinance, the matter shall be submitted to the vote of the House of Peers.