FACTBOX - Japan's Democrats outline policies for candidates

(Reuters) - Japan's opposition Democratic Party, which looks set for a historic victory in an election next month, is promising to pry control of policies from bureaucrats to cut waste and reorient public spending to benefit households.

The Democrats are expected to unveil their formal policy platform after Prime Minister Taro Aso calls a general election for August 30, which he is expected to do on Tuesday, but have distributed a comprehensive outline of the party's policies to its own candidates.

Below are key points of the policy document, obtained by Reuters.

STATE BUDGET

-- Alter the way the state budget is compiled so that politicians, not bureaucrats, gain more control over how much to spend on what.

-- Of the total 207 trillion yen ($2.2 trillion) budget, review 70 trillion yen to cut wasteful spending of taxpayers' money. Lawmakers and outside experts will review expenditure and suspend non-urgent spending such as that for dam projects.

-- Cut subsidies and review operations of government-affiliated agencies, some of which exist only to make post-retirement positions for bureaucrats.

-- Reform the country's tax system to meet any extra costs to implement policy pledges. If that's not enough, the government should tap special budget accounts.

SPENDING PLANS