Why then, by the end of the decade, had the tide of democratic process receded, and how had Japan's conservative and authoritarian elements reined back power from the hands of the people? ... The lower, elected house of the Diet was given less power than that of the House of Peers, to which membership was hereditary or gifted by imperial will, and this upper house managed to block initiatives from the elected body on several occasions2. ... The Meiji Constitution dictated that the military answer only to the emperor, and so any issue concerning military action was out of the hands of the...

• Word Count: 2458
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Graduate