| Course Name | Year | Term | Period | Faculty / Graduate School | All Instructors | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50585:[2025 Spring]Constitutional Law (P) | 2025 | Spring | Tue3 | College Of Policy Science | YOSHIHARA MASATO | 2 |
Campus
Class Venue
Language
Course Outline and Method
The course begins with an examination of the constitution of Japan and proceeds to analyze common principles and structural features shared by constitutions in general. Students are expected to adopt a comparative perspective, using their own country’s constitution as a reference to better understand similarities and differences among constitutions.
The course will basically be conducted face-to-face, creating an interactive environment where students are encouraged to engage in discussions.
Student Attainment Objectives
- Students will be able to think critically and make judgments related to policy science, grounded in universal norms reflected in constitutions.
Recommended Preparatory Course
Course Schedule
| Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) | Theme |
|---|---|
| Keyword, References and Supplementary Information | |
| 1 | Introduction |
modern constitutionalism
|
|
| 2 | The History and Structure of The Constitution of Japan |
constitutional history of Japan |
|
| 3 | The People and the Emperor |
popular sovereignty, emperor’s status and power, representation |
|
| 4 | Separation of Powers |
relationship among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
|
| 5 | The Rule of Law |
the rule of law, judicial review |
|
| 6 | Emergency and Constitution |
emergency clause, martial law |
|
| 7 | Interlude: Discussion from a Comparative Perspective |
Discussion |
|
| 8 | Fundamental Human Rights |
human rights, rights and duties, public welfare |
|
| 9 | Equality |
equality, discrimination, affirmative action |
|
| 10 | Personal Freedoms (1) |
privacy, freedom of expression |
|
| 11 | Personal Freedoms (2) |
freedom of thought and conscience, academic freedom |
|
| 12 | Social and Economic Rights |
right to property, welfare state |
|
| 13 | Constitutional Amendment and Reforms |
limits on constitutional amendment, constituent power |
|
| 14 | Final Summary |
Discussion |
Class Format
Recommendations for Private Study
- Students should investigate how the topics covered in the course are reflected in the constitution of their own country.
Grade Evaluation Method
| Kind | Percentage | Grading Criteria etc. |
|---|---|---|
| Final Examination (Written) | ||
| Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline) |
||
| Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) |
100 | - Class attendance/participation
|
Grade Evaluation Method （Note）
Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods
Textbooks
Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）
Reference Books
Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）
Web Pages for Reference
(English version of the Constitution of Japan)
https://constitution.org
(Documents and ideas about modern constitutionalism)
https://www.constituteproject.org
(English version of the world's constitutions)
How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)
Other Comments
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/