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The Privy Council
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has “usurped” power and that its authority must be limited by reforms in its official organization.[1]

It is scarcely necessary to give details of the organization of the Privy Council; but it may be well to reproduce the following articles of the imperial Ordinance of 1888, as amended in 1890:

Article II.—The Privy Council shall consist of one President, one Vice-President, twenty-five Councillors, one Chief Secretary and five Secretaries.

Article VI.—The Privy Council shall hold its meetings for the purpose of advising His Majesty the Emperor, and shall state its opinions with regard to the following matters:

1. Matters which come under its jurisdiction according to the Koshitsu Tempan (Law of the Houses).

2. Drafts and doubtful points relating to articles of the Constitution and to laws and ordinances dependent to the Constitution.

3. Proclamations of the law of siege provided for in Article XIV, and Imperial Ordinances mentioned in Articles VIII and LXII of the Constitution, as well as all other Imperial Ordinances of a restrictive character.

4. International treaties and pledges.

5. Matters relating to the amendment of the organization of the Privy Council and the rules for conducting business in the Privy Council.

6. Matters specially called for, besides those mentioned in the last paragraphs.

Article X, Paragraph 2.—The President shall cause the Chief Secretary to make explanations and shall afterwards allow the members to discuss matters freely, but no member can speak without obtaining the permission of the President, who may engage in all debates, and shall point out the questions to be decided, and require members to vote with regard to the same.

We also reproduce, from the original Ordinance of April 28, 1888, the following statement:

Article VIII.—Though the Privy Council is the Emperor’s highest resort of council, it shall not interfere with the Executive.

  1. ↑ The Presidents of the Privy Council have been Count Ito, Count Oki, Count Kuroda, Marquis Saionji, Marquis Ito, and Prince Yamagata.

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