The Diet convened its 156th session Monday, with the economy and a set of bills to give the government more powers in the event of an attack topping the agenda.

The ordinary session is scheduled to run 150 days through June 18, but many political observers expect it to be extended, given the number of contentious bills in store, including a package aimed at giving the government an enhanced legal framework to deal with the possibility of attack by another nation.

"We'd like to enact (the war-contingency bills) in particular during this session by gaining the understanding of the nation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said.