er was assigned to the Diet. Cabinets were made responsible to the Diet by having the Prime Minister elected by the Lower House. An elected house of counselors replaced the House of Peers. The judicial system was made as independent of executive interference as possible, and a newly created Supreme Court was given the power to review the constitutionality of laws. Local governments were given greatly increased powers, and compulsory education was increased to nine years from six.The new Japanese constitution also emphasized civil liberties. Women were given full equality with men. Articles thirteen and nineteen in the constitution, prohibit discrimination in political, economic, and social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status, or family origin. This is one of the most explicitly progressive statements on human rights anywhere in law. This statement of equal rights came to the Japanese long before there was a concerted effort to obtain one in America.The Japanese people were vigorous in their support of the new constitution. Perhaps the most popular catch phrase in postwar Japan was Heiwa Kokka Kensetu, which translates to, Construct a nation of peace. This phrase was so popular that Schoolchildren, and even the twelve-year-old crown prince, Akihito practiced it as a matter of course in their calligraphy lessons. Among the first changes to be noted in the new Japanese constitution was the reduction of the power of the Emperor. The United States did not force Japan to abandon the imperial system, although the Emperor was reduced to being a symbol of unity of the nation. The most significant power taken from the Emperor was his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese armed forces. Although much of the Emperors power was taken away, Hirohitos popularity flourished. In a 1948 newspaper poll, Emperor Hirohito was voted the most popular man in Japan.Economic stability came through a concerted American effort to break up ...
