For a period of time, there was a theory on 'Mandokoro Politics' advocated by people like Katsumi KUROITA which argued that prior to World War II, during a period of regency, the sessho and kanpaku (the regent and the chief advisor to the Emperor) were in charge of all State politics.
なお、一時期「政所政治」説という学説があり、これは戦前に黒板勝美らによって唱えられた説で摂関政治期には摂政・関白が国政の全般を掌握していた。