Although the decree asserted 'restoration' of Imperial rule, it intended to completely change the traditional organization of the Imperial Court including Sessho (regent) and Kanpaku (chief adviser), expel senior court nobles, nip the possibility of the Tokugawa dominating the new government in the bud, and establish a new government to be lead by some of the court nobles including Iwakura and the major members of Satsuma and Choshu Domains under the name of the direct rule by the Emperor.
王政に「復古」するといいながらも伝統的な摂政・関白以下の朝廷の秩序を一新することで上級公家を排除し、徳川が新政府の主体となる芽をつみ、天皇親政の名の下、岩倉ら一部の公家と薩長が主導する新政府を成立・宣言する内容であった。