noun
direct election of the prime minister by popular vote
A political system in which the prime minister is chosen directly by the people rather than by the parliament. Often discussed in the context of constitutional reform in Japan.
首相公選制の導入には憲法改正が必要だ。
Introducing a system for direct election of the prime minister requires constitutional amendment.
間接選挙 is an indirect election, where voters choose representatives who then select the leader, as opposed to the direct popular vote implied by 首相公選制.
Compound of 首相 (prime minister), 公選 (public election), and 制 (system). The term is a modern political concept with no deeper historical derivation.