Article 18. The conditions necessary for being a Japanese
subject shall be determined by law.
Article 19. Japanese subjects may, according to
qualifications determined in laws or ordinances, be appointed to
civil or military or any other public offices equally.
Article 20. Japanese subjects are amenable to service in the
Army or Navy, according to the provisions of law.
Article 21. Japanese subjects are amenable to the duty of
paying taxes, according to the provisions of law.
Article 22. Japanese subjects shall have the liberty of
abode and of changing the same within the limits of the law.
Article 23. No Japanese subject shall be arrested, detained,
tried or punished, unless according to law.
Article 24. No Japanese subject shall be deprived of his
right of being tried by the judges determined by law.
Article 25. Except in the cases provided for in the law, the
house of no Japanese subject shall be entered or searched without
his consent.
Article 26. Except in the cases mentioned in the law, the
secrecy of the letters of every Japanese subject shall remain
inviolate.
Article 27. The right of property of every Japanese subject
shall remain inviolate.
(2) Measures necessary to be taken for the public benefit
shall be any provided for by law.
Article 28. Japanese subjects shall, within limits not
prejudicial to peace and order, and not antagonistic to their
duties as subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief.
Article 29. Japanese subjects shall, within the limits of
law, enjoy the liberty of speech, writing, publication, public
meetings and associations.
Article 30. Japanese subjects may present petitions, by
observing the proper forms of respect, and by complying with the
rules specially provided for the same.
Article 31. The provisions contained in the present Chapter
shall not affect the exercises of the powers appertaining to the
Emperor, in times of war or in cases of a national emergency.
Article 32. Each and every one of the provisions contained
in the preceding Articles of the present Chapter, that are not in
conflict with the laws or the rules and discipline of the Army
and Navy, shall apply to the officers and men of the Army and of
the Navy.