The Shokei was the head equivalent to the chairperson of 'Jin no sadame' (Jingi - the ancient cabinet council), which was a de facto supreme council under the Dajokan (Great Council of State) System--the administrative body of the Ritsuryo system (a system of centralized government based on the ritsuryo code).
律令制の行政機関である太政官機構の事実上の最高審議会議体である「陣定」（陣議）においては、議長に相当する一番上の者。