1903 Japanese general election explained

Election Name:1903 Japanese general election
Country:Empire of Japan
Type:parliamentary
Election Date:1 March 1903
Previous Election:1902 Japanese general election
Previous Year:1902
Next Election:1904 Japanese general election
Next Year:1904
Seats For Election:All 376 seats in the House of Representatives
Majority Seats:189
Image1:Kinmochi Saionji 2.jpg
Leader1:Saionji Kinmochi
Party1:Rikken Seiyūkai
Last Election1:50.40%, 191 seats
Seats1:175
Seat Change1:16
Popular Vote1:373,022
Percentage1:45.42%
Swing1:4.98pp
Leader2:Ōkuma Shigenobu
Party2:Kensei Hontō
Last Election2:25.68%, 95 seats
Seats2:85
Seat Change2:10
Popular Vote2:218,689
Percentage2:26.63%
Swing2:0.95pp
Prime Minister
Posttitle:Prime Minister after election
Before Election:Katsura Tarō
Before Party:Independent (politician)
After Election:Katsura Tarō
After Party:Independent (politician)

General elections were held in Japan on 1 March 1903.[1] The Rikken Seiyūkai party remained the largest in the House of Representatives, winning 175 of the 376 seats, but lost its majority.

Electoral system

The 376 members of the House of Representatives were elected in 51 multi-member constituencies based on prefectures and cities. Voting was restricted to men aged over 25 who paid at least 10 yen a year in direct taxation.[2]

Campaign

A total of 537 candidates contested the 376 seats.

Notes and References

  1. Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p281
  2. Mackie & Rose, p276