Imperial Ordinance Concerning the House of Peers.
We, in accordance with the express provision of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, hereby promulgate, with the advice of Our Privy Council, the present ordinance concerning the House of Peers; as to the date of its being carried out, We shall issue a special order.
[His Imperial Majesty's Sign-Manual.]
The 11th day of the 2nd month of the 22nd year of Meiji.
(Countersigned)
Count Kuroda Kiyotaka,
Minister President of State.
Count Ito Hirobumi,
President of the Privy Council.
Count Okuma Shigenobu,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Count Saigo Tsugumichi,
Minister of State for the Navy.
Count Inouye Kaoru,
Minister of State for Agriculture and
Commerce.
Count Yamada Akiyoshi,
Minister of State for Justice.
Count Matsugata Masayoshi,
Minister of State for Finance and
Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Count Oyama Iwao,
Minister of State for War.
Viscount Mori Arinori,
Minister of State for Education.
Viscount Enomoto Takeaki,
Minister of State for Communications.
Article I.—The House of Peers shall be composed of the following Members.
- 1. The members of the Imperial Family.
- 2. Princes and Marquises.
- 3. Counts, Viscounts, and Barons who have been elected thereto by the members of their respective orders.
- 4. Persons who have been specially nominated by the Emperor, on account of meritorious services to the state or of erudition.
- 5. Persons who have been elected, one Member for each Fu (City) and Ken (Prefecture), by and from among the taxpayers of the highest amount of direct national taxes on land, industry or trade therein, and who have afterwards been nominated thereto by the Emperor.
