The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, promulgated in 1889, taking effect the following year, stipulated in Article 4 that 'the Emperor is the head of the state and holds all sovereignty but is to execute its authority according to the Articles of the Constitution.'
に公布され、翌に施行された大日本帝国憲法は4条で「天皇ハ國ノ元首ニシテ統治權ヲ總攬シ此ノ憲法ノ條規ニ依リテ之ヲ行フ」と定めた。