| Is the Japanese prime minister effective as a national leader? The conventional answer is that political constraints limit his vast legal authority, leaving his role in the policy process relatively passive and unimportant. This study, however, provides a different answer: Although the prime minister's legal authority is limited, he can create the political environment necessary for a major policy change when he effectively utilizes his political resources. The study examines both institutional and informal sources of power to determine what limitations the prime minister faces and what resources are at his disposal to be an influential national leader.;The Constitution vests executive power in the cabinet, not in the prime minister. The prime minister does not have direct authority over government agencies because the authority over administrative operations is divided among the various ministers. To influence administrative operations, he theoretically must go through the cabinet, which requires unanimous consent to approve any cabinet decision. Although he has constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss cabinet members, the political reality is that he does not have a free hand in forming his cabinet.;Therefore, the prime minister's legal authority is quite limited. However, he has at his disposal various informal sources of power that he can use to perform a significant role in policymaking. Prime ministers' effectiveness varies depending on their background, experience, political skills, and personality. Some prime ministers have employed their abundant power within the ruling party, the government, or the national parliament to influence policy. Those with limited internal resources have sought support from the public, the media, and business groups to pursue their major policies. Others determined to promote their policy objectives sacrificed their post.;Japan has undergone a series of tremendous political changes in the postwar period. Throughout major changes, the prime minister has been at the center. He is the only political figure with the recognized authority to coordinate agreements among the various agencies and the members of the ruling party or parties. |
