Organization

Plenary Sitting

Generally, plenary sittings of the House of Councillors are held at 10 a.m. on Monday Wednesday, and Friday when the Diet is in session.
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Standing Committees

There is a standing committee corresponding to each of the government ministries; the main purpose of the standing committees is to deliberate over legislative and other proposals. Each house member sits on at least one standing committee.
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Special Committees

Special committees are formed as needed to examine specific issues or proposed laws.

Research Committees

Research committees are a unique feature of the House of Councillors. They meet to carry out long-term, comprehensive studies of particular issues and to propose legislation.

Commission on the Constitution

The Commission on the Constitution is an organization for the following purposes: (1) to conduct broad and comprehensive research on the Constitution of Japan and fundamental legislation closely related to the Constitution of Japan, and (2) to consider Preliminary Draft Amendments to the Constitution, bills on the initiation of Amendments to the Constitution and/or a National Referendum thereon, and other matters.

Board of Information Oversight and Review

In order to continuously monitor the government’s systems operations for the protection of specially designated secrets (SDS) as well as the protection and utilization of critical economic security information (CESI), the Board of Information Oversight and Review (BIOR) investigates the conditions under which information is designated as SDS and CESI, such designations are terminated, and security clearance processes are performed. The BIOR also investigates conditions under which eligible contractors are certified for protecting and utilizing CESI. Additionally, the BIOR reviews the appropriateness of decisions made by heads of administrative organs in response to requests for disclosure of SDS or CESI from the House of Councillors and its committees or research committees.

Deliberative Council on Political Ethics

The Deliberative Council on Political Ethics was formed to establish ethical standards for house members and to decide in specific cases whether a member has violated the rules of conduct that house members are expected to follow.

Secretariat and Legislative Bureau

The Secretariat and the Legislative Bureau assist in the duties of the House of Councillors. Within the Secretariat, some staff conduct research necessary for Committee activities under the direction of the Committee Chairmen. The Legislative Bureau assists Members in drafting bills.