(4) To procure materials for use in business, office supplies, research materials, etc., which are directly required for the carrying out of its responsibilities;
(12) To assist in the exercise of the powers of the Prime Minister concerning the following affairs;
1) To accept the request filed by the chief of a local public body in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 paragraph 1 of the National Government Organization Law, make investigations thereon, make recommendations to the Ministers concerned and take other appropriate measures;
2) To effect the disposition relating to the alterations of the areas of local public bodies or accept the reports of disposition from the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture relating thereto;
3) To accept the reports on the direct demands concerning To, Do, Fu or perfecture, the result of the meeting of assemblies of To, Do, Fu or prefecture and the enactment, amendment or abolition of bylaws of To, Do, Fu or prefecture;
4) To take the procedure in accordance with the provisions of Article 146 of the Local Autonomy Law (Law No.67 of 1947);
5) To take the procedure in accordance with the provisions of Article 247 of the Local Autonomy Law;
6) To take the procedures for a general vote concerning a special law which is applicable only to one local public body and to take procedures for the promulgation of the said law;
7) To approve the establishment of association of local public bodies which is composed of To, Do, Fu, prefectures and special cities, the increase or reduction of its members, the alteration of the affairs managed jointly or the amendment of the articles of the association and to accept the report on the dissolution of the same;
8) To grant the establishment of a juridical person in accordance with the Provisions of Article 34 of the Civil Code (Law No.89 of 1896);
9) To make a ruling on protest concerning the amount of income to be the imposition base of the enterprise tax in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the Local Tax Law (Law No.110 of 1946);
10) To make a ruling on protest concerning the amount of basic tax which shall be the standard of imposition of surtax on enterprise tax in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of the Local Tax Law;
11) To designate the local tax items which may be collected by person obliged to collect special taxes in accordance with the provisions of Article 36 of the Local Tax Law;
12) To designate the local tax items which may be collected by means of collection by certificate stamps in accordance with the provisions of Article 44 of the Local Tax Law;
13) To determine the jurisdiction of tax imposition and others of Do, Fu or prefecture in accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the Local Tax Law;
14) To accept the reports in accordance with the provisions of Article 122 of the Local Tax Law;
15) To request the deliberation concerning the by-law of a local public body and annual or amend such by-law on the basis of the provisions of Article 123 of the Local Tax Law;
16) To distribute the local distribution tax;
17) To give approval concerning the issue of local bonds;
19) To determine, for each local public body, the fixed number of local employees, whose expenses are borne by the national government;
19) To permit the issue of certificates with prizes by local public bodies;
20) To designate the cities which may hold horseraces;
21) To designate the cities, towns and villages which may hold bicycle races in accordance with the Bicycle Race Law (Law No.209 of 1948);