The rules started to function as law when Roshi-gumi changed its name to "Shinsen-gumi," and the organization lead by KONDO/HIJIKATA had been well-established, and are said to have been applied when Kinetaro ITO and his group were purged.
法として機能し始めたのは「新選組」と名を改め近藤・土方を中心とする組織が整ってからで、伊東甲子太郎ら一派の粛清の際にも適用されたといわれる。