The ruling Liberal Democratic Party kicked off deliberations among rank-and-file lawmakers Wednesday over a revision proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.

The LDP executives are now trying to generate a formal party consensus on Abe's proposal in order to draw up a draft by the end of this year. The discussion is part of the party's decision-making process on key policy matters.

The meeting was held for the first time since Abe, who also serves as the LDP president, last month proposed revising Article 9 to legitimize the existence of the Self-Defense Forces.