Concerning the Advisory Council to Consider the Direct Election of the Prime Minister

1. Purpose
   In view of the utmost importance of expanding the political participation of Japanese people and in order to encourage national debate on the modalities of the relationship between the Prime Minister and the people, the Prime Minister shall call on experts and convene the Advisory Council to Consider the Direct Election of the Prime Minister (hereinafter referred to as "the Advisory Council").

2. Issues for Discussion
   The Advisory Council is to conduct wide-ranging discussion on the modalities of the relationship between the Prime Minister and the people, such as the so-called direct election of the Prime Minister, including the constitutional issues, and to formulate specific proposals.

3. Composition

   (1)	The Advisory Council consists of the experts noted in the attachment, and the Prime Minister shall convene its meetings.
   (2)	The Prime Minister shall request a chairperson from among the experts.
   (3)	The Advisory Council, where necessary, may request the attendance of concerned parties.

4. Administrative Affairs
   The administrative affairs of the Advisory Council will be handled by the Cabinet Secretariat with the cooperation of the relevant administrative organizations.

（Attachment）

Members of the Advisory Council to Consider the Direct Election of the Prime Minister

Hirotada Asakawa	Political Analyst
Kuniko Inoguchi	Professor, Faculty of Law, Sophia University
Makoto Oishi	Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University
Sadame Kamakura	Board Chairman, Japan Traffic Safety Association
Masayasu Kitagawa	Governor of Mie Prefecture
Fumiaki Kubo	Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University
Harumi Sakamoto	Secretary-General, Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition
Takeshi Sasaki	President, the University of Tokyo
Tomoyo Nonaka	Journalist
Toru Miyoshi	Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Jiro Yamaguchi	Professor, Graduate School of Law, Hokkaido University