TOKYO - Japan's parliament on Monday passed guidelines for amending the country's pacifist constitution to give the military a larger global role.

Lawmakers applaud at Upper House plenary session in Tokyo as Japan's parliament passed guidelines for amending the country's pacifist constitution Monday, May 14. 2007. [AP]

If the amendments are eventually made, they would be the first to the 1947 constitution, drafted by US occupation officials in the aftermath of World War II.

The vote marked a political victory for nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to see Japan take more responsibility for global security.

The legislation easily passed in parliament's Upper House with support of the ruling bloc's majority. The measure was approved last month by the Lower House.

But the bill drew strong criticism from opposition lawmakers who say the legislation is flawed and aimed at boosting Abe's image before key elections in July.

Monday's legislation sets up panels in both the lower and upper parliamentary houses to review drafts of proposed amendments. The legislation also calls for discussion of a proposal to lower the voting age from 20 to 18 years.

Abe, who is strengthening military cooperation with the United States and requiring schools to teach patriotism, has campaigned to loosen the constitution's limits on military action.

The constitution bans the use of military force as a means of settling international disputes, and special legislation is needed for Japanese soldiers to participate in peacekeeping and other missions abroad.

A national referendum is needed to amend the constitution, and the new legislation maps out how such a referendum would be carried out.

Recent polls show that support for an amendment is mixed.

Many Japanese credit the charter's pacifist clause with keeping the country out of war since 1945, preventing a resurgence of wartime militarism and allowing Japan to focus on becoming wealthy.

Abe and supporters, however, argue that Japan needs to take more responsibility in maintaining global peace and security. The country dispatched troops on a humanitarian mission to Iraq in 2004-06, the first time since World War II that Japanese soldiers have entered a combat zone.