Background: Japan's lower house & general election

The following are some background information about Japan's House of Representatives and the general election.

Japan's post-war parliament consists of two houses -- the House of Representatives, or the lower house, and the House of Councilors, or the upper house.

The lower house election is held every four years expect that it is dissolved.

Japan's election system is a combination of the single-seat constituency and proportional representation. Under the system, 300 lawmakers are elected from single-seat constituencies, and remaining 180 by proportional representation in which the nation is divided into 11 electoral blocs.

In the election, voters cast two ballots: One for an individual candidate in the single-seat constituency and the other for a political party in the proportional representation election.

The general election scheduled for Sunday is the 44th election after World War II. There are 1,131 candidates competing for the 480 seats up for grab.

The upcoming election came after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dissolved the lower house on Aug. 8 as his postal privatization bills was voted down in the upper house.

Before the dissolution, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had249 seats. Its ruling partner -- the New Komeito party -- held 34 seats. And the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan possessed 175 seats.

The LDP says it aims to have the postal bills passed in the next parliament session. The party also intends to strengthen Japan's ties with the United States and revamp relations with Asian countries. In addition, the party will work out a draft constitution revision in November when it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding.

The DPJ promises in its manifesto cut of national expenditures and postal funds, and the withdrawal of troops in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua