President of the House of Councillors facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the House of Councillors |
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Emblem of the Government of Japan
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 Masakazu Sekiguchi since 11 November 2024 |
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| House of Councillors | |
| Style | Mr. President (informal) The Honourable (formal) |
| Residence | The President's Official Residence (not in use) |
| Appointer | House of Councillors |
| Term length | Three years; renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Japan |
| Formation | May 20, 1947 |
| Deputy | Vice President of the House of Councillors |
The President of the House of Councillors (called Sangiin-gichō in Japanese) is the main leader of the House of Councillors. This is like the "upper house" or one of the two main groups in Japan's law-making body. Together with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President is a top leader of Japan's legislative branch. This is the part of the government that makes laws.
The President is chosen by the members of the House of Councillors. They can serve for two three-year terms, which means a maximum of six years. The current President of the House of Councillors is Masakazu Sekiguchi. He started his job on November 11, 2024.
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How the President is Chosen
The election for the President happens when a new session of the House begins. The House's secretary-general helps manage the election. Members vote secretly, and the person who gets more than half of the votes wins.
If no one gets enough votes, the two candidates with the most votes have another election. If they get the same number of votes, the winner is chosen by drawing lots, like a lottery. The Vice President is chosen in a similar way, but in a separate vote.
Usually, the President is an experienced member from the main ruling political party. The Vice President is usually an experienced member from the main opposition party. For example, the current President, Masakazu Sekiguchi, is from the Liberal Democratic Party. The Vice President, Hiroyuki Nagahama, is from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
What the President Does
The President of the House of Councillors has important jobs. They make sure that meetings run smoothly and that everyone follows the rules. They also manage the daily work of the House.
Keeping Order in the House
The President is in charge of keeping order during meetings. They can ask police officers from the National Police Agency to help if needed. These officers follow the President's directions. The President can even order someone to be arrested or removed from the House if they are causing trouble.
If a member of the House acts in a disorderly way, the President can warn them. They can also tell the member to take back what they said. If the member still does not obey, the President can stop them from speaking. They can also make the member leave the meeting until it ends. If a meeting becomes too chaotic, the President can stop it temporarily or end it for the day.
Images for kids
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The residence of the president of the House of Councillors (Sangiin gichō kōtei) in Nagatachō, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo is mainly used for official occasions such as reception of state guests. The residence of the vice president is located in Azabu-Nagasakachō in Minato ward.
