The Meiji Constitution of 1889 was a landmark in the political modernization of Japan. It established a constitutional framework while preserving the supremacy of the Emperor and ensuring that political authority remained concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite. Although inspired by Western constitutional models, especially the Prussian Constitution, it reflected Japanese traditions, the ideology of imperial sovereignty, and the objective of strengthening the state rather than promoting liberal democracy. The Constitution was promulgated on 11 February 1889 by Emperor Meiji and came into force in 1890. It was drafted under the leadership of Ito Hirobumi, who studied European constitutional systems before recommending the German model as the most suitable for Japan. The Constitution was presented as a gift from the Emperor to his subjects rather than as a document based on popular sovereignty. The central feature of the Constitution was the doctrine of imperial sovereignty. The Emperor was declared sacred and inviolable and possessed supreme authority over the state. He exercised executive power, commanded the army and navy, declared war and peace, concluded treaties, appointed and dismissed ministers, and could issue ordinances with the force of law under certain conditions. Thus, sovereignty resided in the Emperor rather than in the people. The Constitution established a bicameral Imperial Diet consisting of the House of Peers and the House of Representatives. The House of Peers comprised members of the nobility, imperial appointees,