The Daijokan (Council of State) was the most important decision-making organization of the government and consisted of a legislative department composed of the Daijo Daijin (Grand Minister), Sadaijin (the Minister of the Left), Udaijin (the Minister of the Right), and Dainagon (the Major Counselorof the state) (later, Chinagon [vice-councilor of state］ and Sangi [minister] were added), and the departments that assisted them in their work, Shonagon (lesser councilor of state), the Left and Right Benkan's (Controller) Offices, and the Gekikyoku's (Secretarie) Office.
太政官は、国政の意思決定を行う最も重要な機関であり、太政大臣・左大臣・右大臣・大納言（後に中納言・参議が加わる）による議政官組織とそれを実務面で補佐する少納言・左右弁官局・外記局から構成されていた。