Fig. 1-1-6-1 shows the trends in the number of persons newly received by public prosecutors offices over the last decade for Public Offices Election Law violations.
  The number of persons newly received for Public Offices Election Law violations sharply fluctuates depending on whether or not there have been any elections in the year in question and on the type of elections. The number was outstandingly high in 1993, 1995, and 1999, because the general election for the House of Representatives was held in July 1993, and unified local elections were held in April 1995 and in April 1999. The number of persons newly received for Public Offices Election Law violations was 2,200 in 2000, when the general election was held in June, fewer than 3,190 persons in 1996, when the previous general election for the House of Representatives was held. In 2001, the regular election for the House of Councilors was held in July, but the number of persons newly received was 2,259.
  According to Criminal Statistics by National Police Agency, by nature of violation, among the number of persons referred for Public Offices Election Law violations in 2001, the most common were bribery and inducement of interests, followed by violations for limits of documentation systems and violations for limits ofelectoral campaigns by public officials, etc.
  Since bribery and inducement of interests have an extremely adverse effect on fairness in elections, the Public Offices Election Law provides for the various regulations on such acts. The Public Offices Election Law came into force in 1950, there have been significant changes in the election system under the law,including introduction of the proportional representation system for House of Councilors elections in 1982 and for House of Representatives elections in 1994. With respect to regulations on bribery and inducement of interests, the regulation holding a candidate jointly responsible was strengthened in 1954, 1962, 1975, 1981 and 1994 and the maximum amount of fines was raised in 1975 and 1994.

Fig. 1-1-6-1 Trends in the number of persons newly received by public prosecutors offices for Public Offices Election Law violations (1992-2001)

   Fig. 1-1-6-2 shows the trends in the number of persons referred for bribery and inducement of interests at a point 3 months or 90 days after the voting day in nation-wide elections (general elections for the House of Representatives, regular elections for the House of Councilors and unified local elections) that have been held during the period from the date of enforcement of the Public Offices Election Law until 2001, by election type. It also shows the year when the above legal amendments were implemented.

Fig. 1-1-6-2 Trends in the number of persons referred for bribery and inducement of interests in nation-wide elections and amendment of the Public Offices Election Law (1950-2001)

  The number of persons referred for bribery and inducement of interests started to decrease remarkably from 1965 in all 3 types of elections. The numbers in general elections for the House of Representatives and regular elections for the House of Councilors have been repeatedly increasing and decreasing in number in the short term. After the partial amendment of the Public Offices Election Law became effective in December 1994, which aimed at introducing the proportional representation system for general elections for the House of Representatives, strengthening the regulation holding a candidate jointly responsible, and raising the maximum amount of fines, the number of persons referred for bribery and inducement of interests has continued to decrease. However, the number of persons referred for bribery and inducement of interests in the regular elections for the House of Councilors in 2001 exceeded those in 1995 and 1998.