The House of Representatives is set to launch a study group in January 2000 to debate issues related to the Constitution, informed sources said Friday.
A Lower House subcommittee approved a bill Thursday to amend the Diet Law to allow the formation of the study group. The legislation is likely to be passed during the current Diet session, which has been extended until Aug. 13.
The bill will be submitted to the Lower House for plenary debate after clearing the Diet Steering Committee as early as Thursday, the sources said.
Supporting the bill are the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the Liberal Party, along with the Democratic Party of Japan and the New Komeito-Kaikaku parliamentary group.
The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party are opposed to the formation of the study group.
The 50-member study group is intended to hold wide-ranging and comprehensive discussions on issues related to the Constitution within a time frame of about five years, according to the Lower House subcommittee.
Discussions within the group, which will have no power to write legislation, will be open to the public in principle, but closed-door sessions may be held if backed by a vote of its members.