A group of lawmakers considering review of the Constitution proposed two related bills Friday for submission to the ordinary Diet session to convene in January.
The group, formed in 1997 and headed by former Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama, consists of 313 Diet members from all parties except the opposition Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party.
One bill proposes that a special public referendum be held on revising the Constitution, while the other proposes changes to the Diet law that will spell out procedures for making constitutional revisions.