A British style parliament state was established in which the cabinet became a committee of the majority party or coalition in the Diet. This broke with the Meiji Constitution, which had permitted the emperor or those who acted in his name to appoint prime ministers without regard for the Diet. The new constitution also added an American-style independent judiciary and a federal system of prefectures with elected governors and local leaders. Women were given the right to vote and the rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, a free press, and free assembly were guaranteed. …
