sembly must be over 25 years of age, a permanent resident of that Ken or Fu, and be paying an annual land-tax of more than 10 yen. Voters in such an election must be over 20 years of age, permanent residents of that Ken or Fu, and be paying annual land-taxes of more than 5 yen. There are about 2,000,000 voters in all.

From among the members, the assembly elects a "standing committee of from five to seven persons, who serve for a period of two years. They remain in the capital throughout the year, to give advice when the Governor asks it about the manner and order of carrying out the enactments of the assembly and about the payment of extraordinary expense. A member of this committee receives "from 30 yen to 80 yen per month, and travelling expenses."

The ordinary annual session of an assembly opens some time in November and continues for not more than 30 days. But the Governor has power to call a special session and to suspend an assembly; while the power to prorogue an assembly rests with the Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Each session of an assembly is formally "opened " by the Governor; and the business to come before the assembly is presented in bills originating with him and his subordinates. At any time, when a member of the assembly wishes explanations concerning any matter within the purview of the assembly, the Governor or his representative must explain. In fact, such officials may speak at any time, provided

they do not interrupt the speech of a member; but they have no vote.

When a member wishes to address the assembly, he rises, calls out "Gichō" (Chairman), and gives the number of his seat. When the chairman has recognized him by repeating that number, he "has the floor."1

If other matters, besides those included in the "original bill(s)" of the Governor, seem to at least two members to warrant discussion, they present these matters in the form of petitions; and if the assembly grants permission, these petitions may be discussed, like bills.

No bill becomes a law until it has been signed by the Governor. If the latter does not agree with a bill, he may appeal to the Department of Home Affairs, where it will be finally decided.

If we now endeavor to measure the extent and limitations of the power of a Japanese prefectural assembly, we may say that in theory a Kenkwai or a Fukwai is by no means entirely independent of the central government, nor does it possess absolute control of the matters of its own Ken or Fu. It will be noticed that in all cases the final ratification or decision rests with the Governor or the Department of Home Affairs. The latter also has the power in its own hands of suspending an assembly at its discretion. It would seem, then, that theoretically a

1 The sessions are generally very orderly; no smoking or drinking is allowed in the assembly-room.

Fukwai or a Kenkwai is pretty much under the control of the central government, and has very little real power of its own. Its nature appears more like that of an elective advisory board than of a legislative body.

But, in practice and in fact, a wise Governor, though he is an appointive officer of the central government, does not often put himself in opposition to public opinion, unless it be a case of the greatest importance; and the Department of Home Affairs is loath to exercise authority unless it is absolutely necessary. The central government holds the power to control these assemblies if it should be necessary; but it also respects public opinion, and allows local self-government as far as possible.1

The extension of local self-government to cities, towns, and villages (shi, chō, and son) led to the introduction into the Japanese language of several special terms, like jūmin (resident) and kōmin (citizen), and to a careful distinction between the respective rights and duties of the two. The "residents"

1 The principle of local self-government has been most signally upheld in one instance by the Imperial Japanese government. Recently the Governor of Gumma Prefecture, in the face of the public opinion of that section, gave permission for the re-establishment of the system of licensed immorality. Inasmuch as the people of that prefecture have always taken great pride in the fact that their section was an oasis in the desert, they raised a great storm, and accused the Governor of having lent himself to speculators. Whether or not this accusation was true, the Minister of Home Affairs so far respected local opinion as to revoke the permission granted by the Governor and to remove the latter from office.