從日本參議院全國選區談日本政黨與利益團體的關係

Parties, Interest Groups, and Upper House Elections in Japan

長期以來，日本參議院全國選區的議員多半是全國性利益團體代表，而且還是「利益團體推薦、政黨提名」的模式。值得注意的是，日本參議院全國選區的選舉制度，並沒有規定席次必需按照社會背景與職業來分配。如果不是正式制度所規定，為什麼大部分參議院全國選區的議員會是利益團體的代表？又為什麼會發展出「利益團體推薦、政黨提名」的模式？

For a long time, a majority of elected candidates in the national district for the upper house elections have not only been backed by interest groups but have been representatives of nationally-organized interest groups. Interestingly, in Japan, there are no laws requiring that upper house members be vocational representatives. How has the pattern “interest groups endorse and parties nominate” almost become a norm?