Japan: Before The Constitution
Before the constitution, the government was complete monarchy. The emperor had absolute rule over Meiji. The Meiji Restoration is a major event that led to the Political Crisis of 1881. This event led to the major decision that Japan needed a constitution to limit government power and protect certain rights of the Japanese culture. This was where it was also decided to place Ito Hirobumi in charge of creating and writing the Meiji Constitution.
Japan: After The Constitution
After the Meiji Constitution was written, the emperor had less monarch power. He was limited to what the Japanese Constitution allowed him to do. The Diet was also governed by the constitution. It represented an unlimited monarchy, for all ministers of state as well as heads of the army and navy reported directly to the Emperor rather than to the Diet representatives.
How It Is Affected Today
Currently, the Meiji Constitution is a symbol of Japan's Democracy and Western-form of government. Like America, Japan has a parliament and a cabinet to guide the head of government. In Japan's case it would be the emperor. To this day, the emperor has less power and is still limited to the constitution, as well as the Dieties and cabinet.