Outline of the First to Fourth Recommendations of the Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization
1. Abolition of delegated duty system
・The delegated duty system, which is the core of the centralized administration system, will be abolished; work handled by local governments shall be reclassified into autonomous work and legally delegated work.
2. New rules for relations between the central government and local governments.
・The right of comprehensive supervision in delegated duty work shall be abolished. Basic types of involvement permissible for each new task in autonomous work and legally delegated work, shall be stipulated in the Local Autonomy Law. Procedures for the handling of disputes between the national government and local government will be established.
3. Promotion of devolution
・Powers to be devolved will be specified in each administrative field. It is expected that further devolution will also be taken into consideration.
In addition to the above three points, further recommendations were made regarding the review of requisite regulations, the reform of local public administrative system, the rationalization of national subsidies, the strengthening of local tax revenues, etc.
Developments in the promotion of decentralization
June 1993 Resolution on the promotion of decentralization (House of Representatives, House of Councilors)
Oct. 1993 Final report by the Third Provisional Council for the Promotion of Administrative Reform (emphasis on deregulation and decentralization)
Sep. 1994 Opinion paper on the promotion of decentralization (six organizations representing local government)
Nov. 1994 Report on the promotion of decentralization (24th Local Government System Research Council)
Dec. 1994 Policy outline on the promotion of decentralization (cabinet decision)
May. 1995 Enactment of Decentralization Promotion Law
July 1995 Enforcement of Decentralization Promotion Law
July 1995 Establishment of Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization
Activities of the committee for the promotion of Decentralization
July 3, 1995 Establishment of the Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization
Mar.29, 1996 Interim report
Dec. 20, 1996 First recommendations of the Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization
・Abolition of delegated duty system
・New rules for relations between the central government and local governments
・Devolution of power
