House of Representatives (Japan)

The House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgiin) is the lower house of the National Diet of Japan. Along with the House of Councillors (the upper house), it comprises the Japanese legislature. The House of Representatives is considerably more powerful than the House of Councillors. It can override a veto of legislation by the upper house by a two-thirds majority. It also has the sole power to designate the Prime Minister, a designation the House of Councillors can only override with a two-thirds majority vote in the House of Representatives.

Members of the House of Representatives are elected to four-year terms, subject to dissolution of the House by the Prime Minister. Elections are conducted using a parallel voting system. This system combines single-member districts with proportional representation. A certain number of representatives are elected from single-member districts, while the remaining representatives are elected from multi-member proportional representation blocks. This ensures both local representation and representation of different political parties.

The House of Representatives is responsible for initiating most legislation, approving the national budget, and ratifying treaties. It plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of the Cabinet, as the Prime Minister must command the confidence of the House. Dissolution of the House is a powerful tool in the hands of the Prime Minister, often used to call snap elections to seek a renewed mandate from the electorate or break political deadlock.