Free and Frank Constitutional Debate by the People

The role of the constitution in modern constitutionalism has been defined as follows. 窶弋he constitution comprises the fundamental norms and standards established by those in whom sovereignty resides to limit the exercise of state power.窶 By no means is the constitution meant to enunciate the social vision or the traditions and values that a government in office at any given time may wish to aspire to. Nor is it a collection of norms and standards that that government may want to use to define the obligations and moral duties of the people. The Democratic Party of Japan believes that the core principles of the Constitution of Japan, which are 窶徘opular sovereignty,窶 窶徨espect for fundamental human rights窶 and 窶徘acifism,窶 are firmly supported by the certitude of the people. The Democratic Party of Japan has presented a very responsible position to the people regarding constitutional amendment. That is, from the perspective of establishing true constitutionalism and adhering to the principle that the 窶廚onstitution is in the hands of the people,窶 we have advocated that any deficiencies in the present Constitution should be rectified and that any points requiring revision should be amended. In the autumn of 2005, the Democratic Party of Japan released its 窶弃roposals for the Constitution.窶 Based on this document, we will continue to engage in free and frank constitutional debate with the people throughout the country. We shall very carefully but actively examine whether a majority of the people support constitutional amendment, and we shall endeavour to identify those points on which a broadly based consensus can be readily forged in the Diet.ﾂ?ﾂ?